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Biopsy tissue microarray study of Ki-67 expression in untreated, localized prostate cancer managed by active surveillance

Prostate Cancer and Prostatic Diseases volume 12, pages 143–147 (2009)Cite this article

Abstract

Active surveillance provides a unique opportunity to study biomarkers of prostate cancer behaviour, although only small volumes of tumor tissue are typically available. We have evaluated a technique for constructing tissue microarrays (TMAs) from needle biopsies for assessing immunohistochemical markers in localized prostate cancer managed by active surveillance. TMAs were constructed from diagnostic prostate biopsies for 60 patients with localized prostatic adenocarcinoma in a prospective cohort study of active surveillance. Radical treatment was recommended for a prostate-specific antigen (PSA) velocity greater than 1 ng ml−1 per year or adverse histology in repeat biopsies, defined as Gleason score ⩾4+3 or >50% of cores involved. Sections from the TMAs were stained with H&E, P63/AMACR and Ki-67. Time to radical treatment was analysed with respect to clinical characteristics and Ki-67 LI. At a median follow up of 36 months, 25/60 (42%) patients had received radical treatment. On univariate analysis, PSA density (P=0.001), Gleason score (P=0.001), clinical T stage (P=0.01), Ki-67 LI (P=0.02) and initial PSA (P=0.04) were associated with time to radical treatment. On multivariate analysis, PSA density (P=0.01), Ki-67 LI (P=0.03) and Gleason score (P=0.04) were independent determinants of progression to radical treatment. TMAs constructed from prostate needle biopsies can be used to assess immunohistochemical markers in localized prostate cancer managed by active surveillance. Ki-67 LI merits further study as a possible biomarker of early prostate cancer behaviour.

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Acknowledgements

This work was undertaken in The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust who received a proportion of its funding from the NHS Executive; the views expressed in this publication are those of the authors and not necessarily those of the NHS Executive. This work was supported by the Institute of Cancer Research, the Cancer Research UK Section of Radiotherapy (CUK) grant number C46/A2131 and NCRI South of England Prostate Cancer Collaborative.

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Author notes

  1. C S Cooper and C Parker: Joint last authors.

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Cancer Research, Male Urological Cancer Research Centre, Sutton, Surrey, UK

    S Jhavar, J Bartlett, D Dearnaley, R Eeles, D Brewer, C S Cooper & C Parker

  2. Laboratory of Molecular Oncology, Medical Faculty, Reprecht-Karls-University, Heidelberg, Germany

    G Kovacs

  3. Department of Cellular Pathology, St Georges Hospital NHS Trust, Tooting, London, UK

    C Corbishley

  4. The Royal Marsden NHS Trust Foundation Trust, Sutton, Surrey, UK

    D Dearnaley, R Eeles, V Khoo, R Huddart, A Horwich, A Thompson, A Norman & C Parker

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  1. S Jhavar
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  2. J Bartlett
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  3. G Kovacs
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  4. C Corbishley
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  5. D Dearnaley
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  7. V Khoo
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  9. A Horwich
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  11. A Norman
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  12. D Brewer
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  13. C S Cooper
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Correspondence to C Parker.

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Jhavar, S., Bartlett, J., Kovacs, G. et al. Biopsy tissue microarray study of Ki-67 expression in untreated, localized prostate cancer managed by active surveillance. Prostate Cancer Prostatic Dis 12, 143–147 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1038/pcan.2008.47

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