TITLE:
Standardized Assessment of Ki-67 in Breast Cancer Patients Using Virtual Slides and an Automated Analyzer in Comparison to Central/Local Pathological Assessments
AUTHORS:
Yoshio Mizuno, Hiromi Fuchikami, Tsuneo Natori, Naoko Takeda, Yuko Inoue, Junichi Yamada, Hiroaki Abe, Hiroshi Seto, Kazuhiko Sato
KEYWORDS:
Ki-67; Core Needle Biopsy; Concordance Rate; Virtual Slides; Automated Analyzer; Standardized Assessment
JOURNAL NAME:
Journal of Cancer Therapy,
Vol.5 No.2,
February
10,
2014
ABSTRACT: Purpose: To standardize the methods to measure Ki-67, there is an interest in
automating the assessment of Ki-67. Therefore, we reviewed the possibility of
introducing an automated analyzer to standardize the Ki-67 evaluation method. Methods:
We retrospectively reviewed a clinical database of patients who underwent
surgery for early breast cancer at Tokyo-West Tokushukai Hospital. Among them,
those who underwent preoperative core needle biopsy (CNB) were enrolled. The
concordance rates of estrogen receptor (ER), progesterone receptor (PgR), human
epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2), and Ki-67 by local pathologists were
reviewed (valuations made by local pathologists), and nonmatching
cases (from August 2008 to October 2011) were reassessed both by central review
and using an automated analyzer with virtual slides. The results were compared
with the evaluations made by local pathologists, and we reexamined the concordance rate by using central review and the
automated analyzer. Results:
The concordance rate of Ki-67 evaluations made by local pathologists in the preoperative
CNB and surgical specimens was 78.7% in 287 cases pathologically assessed from
October 2008 to March 2013. This rate was significantly lower (p in clear improvement in matching of 22 (92.1%) and 24 (93.1%) of 37 cases,
respectively. Conclusion:
The concordance rate of Ki-67 in preoperative CNB and surgical specimens
was lower than that of other biological markers; however,
they were nearly equal by reassessment using central review and an automated
analyzer.