The relationship of clusterin expression and Ki-67 labeling index with clinicopathologic factors in human transitional cell carcinoma

Abstract

Purpose: This study examined the expression of clusterin and Ki-67 in human transitional cell carcinoma (TCC). In addition, the relationship of clusterin and Ki-67 expression with the clinicopathological factors and prognosis of human TCC was investigated. Materials and Methods: 149 human TCC tissues were obtained from 149 patients who underwent a radical cystectomy (n=81) or transurethral resection (n=68). The expression of clusterin and Ki-67 was analyzed using immunohistochemical staining. The results were evaluated with respect to the clinicopathological factors. Results: Positive clusterin expression was observed in 21.1% of the total TCC tissues. The expression of clusterin was not significantly related to age, gender, tumor stage and grade. However, recurrence-free survival rate of the patients with positive clusterin expression was significantly lower than that of patients with negative clusterin expression (p=0.02). The expression level of Ki-67 in the TCC tissues was associated with the tumor stage (p < 0.001) and grade (p < 0.001), but not with age and gender. Furthermore, the recurrence-free survival rate of patients with strong Ki-67 expression was significantly lower than that of patients with weak Ki-67 expression (p<0.001). The expression of clusterin was not significantly related to the level of Ki-67 expression. However, in the patients showing strong Ki-67 expression, the recurrence-free survival rate of the patients with positive clusterin expression was significantly lower than that of the patients with negative clusterin expression (p<0.001). Conclusions: These results suggest that the expression of clusterin and Ki-67 can be used as a useful predictor of the prognosis of patients with human TCC.