Abstract
Objective: Low grade gliomas are a heterogeneous group of neoplasms that can progress to malignant gliomas. Various proliferation markers are researched by histopathologists at increasing rates to determine the prognostic behavior of brain tumors. In this study, we aimed to investigate the prognostic significance of the Ki-67 proliferation index in low grade gliomas.
Method: This retrospective study included 38 cases diagnosed with low grade gliomas of WHO grades I and II according to the data retrieved from patient files. Patient characteristics such as age, gender, histology, grade and localization of tumors, treatment options, and recurrence rates were recorded. Immunohistochemical analysis was performed using Ki -67 antibodies, p53, GFAP and others, using paraffin sections.
Results:There were 20 female (% 52.6) and 18 male (% 47.4) patients, with a mean age of 40.32 ± 9.99 years (range: 23- 63). The most common histologic type was oligodendroglioma. The progression-free survival (PFS) time was 35.93 ± 5.16 months, and the overall survival (OS) time was 110.98 ± 9.08 months. Patients with frontal tumors showed longer survival times compared to those with temporal and parietal tumors (115.25 ± 7.42 versus 47.50 ± 5.63 and 33.75 ± 8.80 months), respectively (p:0.014). The Ki-67 proliferative index and other clinicopathological characteristics were found to have no effect on PFS and OS.
Conclusions: More comprehensive case series that will use different cut-off values are warranted to understand the effect of the Ki-67 proliferative index on the prognosis and survival in low-grade glial tumours more clearly.