Cell cycle-dependent expression of Ki-67 antigen in human melanoma cells subjected to irradiation and/or hyperthermia.

The proliferation of human melanoma cells in vitro during the first 3 days after irradiation and/or hyperthermia was followed by two-parameter flow cytometry combining cell cycle analysis on the basis of DNA content with Ki-67 antibody labeling. It was found that cells arrested or delayed in the S and G2 phases of the cell cycle were Ki-67-positive in spite of the antigen's very short half-life. Thus Ki-67 staining failed to reflect those changes in cell proliferation which typically occur in the course of a fractionated radiotherapy as well as those expected in the case of hyperthermia or a combined treatment.