Prognostic Value of Ki-67 Expression in Advanced Lung Squamous Cell Carcinoma Patients Treated with Chemotherapy

Abstract

Background

The relationship between the Ki-67 expression level and chemotherapy response and survival prognosis in advanced lung squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) remains unclear.

Methods

A total of 101 patients were included in the study. All patients received systemic first-line platinum-based chemotherapy. The Ki-67 expression level was determined by immunohistochemistry analysis.

Results

The Ki-67 expression level was positively correlated with an increase in tumor T stage (P = 0.0140), N stage (P < 0.0001), and M stage (P < 0.0001) in advanced lung SCC. High Ki-67 expression could predict chemotherapy response (area under the curve = 0.7524, P < 0.0001). Patients with tumors that expressed high levels of Ki-67 had shorter overall survival (OS) (18.8 months vs 25.5 months, P = 0.0002) and progression-free survival (PFS) (4.8 months vs 6.7 months, P < 0.0001). Cox analysis found Ki-67 expression to be an independent prognostic biomarker of shortened OS (P = 0.009) and PFS (P = 0.008).

Conclusion

Ki-67 expression may affect chemotherapy response and thus has prognostic value. Ki-67 expression may be a promising prognostic biomarker for advanced lung SCC.

Keywords:

• Ki-67 expression
• advanced lung squamous cell carcinoma
• chemotherapy response
• prognostic value

Ethical Approval

This study was conducted in accordance with the Declaration of Helsinki and was approved by the Human Research Ethics Committee of Anhui Chest Hospital (no. k2021 - 005). The reasons for the waiver were as follows. First, the study was a retrospective analysis of patients’ previous diagnosis and treatment data; thus, there was no additional risk to patients. Additionally, the ethics committee waived the requirement for informed written consent. All data were anonymized to maintain patient privacy.

Disclosure

The authors have no conflicts of interest to declare.