Prognostic Factors in the Patients Undergoing Hepatic Resection for Colorectal Liver Metastasis: Human Telomerase Reverse Transcriptase (hTERT), Ki-67 and p53 Expression

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: We evaluated the expressions of hTERT, Ki-67 and p53 in patients who underwent a curative resection for hepatic colorectal metastasis to see if there was any relationship of these immunohistochemical analyses with the disease free survival. METHODS: Patients who underwent a curative resection for hepatic colorectal metastasis, between 1995 and 2003, were analyzed. For each patient, the clinical prognostic score was derived from the patient's sex, age, tumor size and lymph node status, and serum CEA level. Tumor specimens were analyzed for Ki-67, hTERT and p53 using standard immunohistochemical techniques. RESULTS: The study included 23 patients: 9 and 12 survived without disease for less and more than 12 months, respectively. Ki-67, hTERT (labeling indexes greater than or equal to 50%) and p53 positivities (labeling indexes greater than or equal to 10%) were observed in 5, 17 and 11 patients, respectively. CONCLUSION: In patients undergoing resection of hepatic colorectal metastasis, the expressions of Ki-67, hTERT and p53 did not correlate with the disease free survival.