Prognostic value of Ki-67 expression in patients with extensive-stage small cell lung cancer

Abstract

Aim: To determine whether Ki-67 has prognostic significance in patients with extensive-stage small cell lung cancer. Patients & methods: A retrospective review identified 159 consecutive patients with extensive-stage small cell lung cancer. Ki-67 expression level at the time of diagnosis was retrieved. Survival was assessed by Kaplan–Meier method and long-rank test. Results: None of the clinical characteristics, including age, gender and lactate dehydrogenase, were significantly associated with Ki-67 expression level (p > 0.05). Patients with high Ki-67 expression had longer survival than patients with low Ki-67 expression (p = 0.078). Age, gender and lactate dehydrogenase were not significantly associated with survival (p > 0.05). Conclusion: Ki-67 expression level failed to have a markedly significant impact on survival in patients with extensive-stage small cell lung cancer.