Prognostic significance of the Ki-67 labeling index and p53 protein expression for patient with craniopharyngioma

Abstract

Craniopharyngiomas are histological benign tumors. Craniopharyngiomas are slowly growing locally invasive intracranial tumors that can generate considerable morbidity and recurrences that are often difficult to manage. Reliable morphologic criteria for predicting clinical outcome of these tumors are lacking. The aim of the study was to investigate the prognostic value of Ki-67 labeling indices and p53 protein expression for recurrence in craniopharyngiomas. A series of 47 patients with craniopharyngiomas (29 male and 18 female; age range:4-74 years, mean years:31.4±17.8) were reviewed. Nine cases were papillary squamous and 38 cases were adamantinomatous variant. Tumors recurred in 10 (%21.2) patients (range 2-120, mean 23.2 months). Ki-67 labeling indices varied from 0 % to 12 % (mean 1.68±2.7 %). The ratio of p53 staining was 1-25% in 24 cases, in most majority (17 cases) it was under 10%. Ki-67 labeling index and p53 immunopositivity showed no statistically significant correlation with tumor recurrences and histological subtypes. Low Ki-67 labeling indices and p53 immunopositivity are common findings in the majority of craniopharyngiomas. Ki-67 labeling indices and p53 expression of primary tumors did not have prognostic value to predict tumor recurrence.