The Significance of c-Met and Ki-67 Expression in the Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma

두경부 편평세포암에서 c-Met 단백과 Ki-67 발현의 의의

Background and Objectives Various tumor markers have been studied in an attempt to evaluate and decide the optimal treatment of the patients with head and neek squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). A nuclear antigen Ki-67 is a proliferative marker of tumor cells in all phases of cell cycle except G0. c-met gene, the tyrosine kinase receptor for hepatocyte growth tactor, may play various roles in malignant transformation. The authors evaluated the prognostic significance of Ki-67 and c-Met in surgical specimens of HNSCC to determine the relationship with the various clinicopathological characteristics. Materials and Methods Formatin-fixed paraffin-embedded surgical specimens were obtained from 54 patients with HNSCC. Ki-67 and c-Met expressions were analyzed by immunohistochemical staning and were compared with the clinicopathological characteristics such as, pathologic differentiation, tumor stage, clinical stage and lymph node metastasis. Results Ki-67 and c-Met over-expression was detected in 66.7% and 90.7% in HNSCC. There was positive correlation of increased expression of Ki-67 with tumor stage. and clinical stage, increased expression of e-Met with tumor stage, clinical stage, and nodal status. The expression of c-Met had a significant positive relationship with Ki-67 index (p<0.05). Conclusion Therefore, Ki-67 and c-Met are useful markers of tumor progression, aggressiveness and prognosis in HNSCC.