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Assessment of Ki-67 proliferation index in relation to histological grades of oral squamous cell carcinoma

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Keywords

Carcinoma Squamous Cell
Cell Proliferation
Immunohistochemistry
Ki-67 Antigen
Mouth Neoplasms
Neoplasm Grading
Tumor Cell Malignant

How to Cite

1.
Muzafar A, Ahmed I, Ahmad H, Hameed S, Altaf R, Butt NB. Assessment of Ki-67 proliferation index in relation to histological grades of oral squamous cell carcinoma. JRMC [Internet]. 2025 Dec. 31 [cited 2026 Jan. 20];29(4). Available from: https://journalrmc.com/index.php/JRMC/article/view/3038

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate the Ki-67 proliferation index and its correlation with different histological grades of Oral squamous cell carcinoma.

Methods: This retrospective immunohistochemical study was conducted at the Pathology Department of Mayo Hospital, Lahore, from January 2024 to May 2025. A total of 30 histopathologically confirmed cases of OSCC were selected. Hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) stained slides were used for grading tumors, followed by immunohistochemical staining for Ki-67. The staining intensity and percentage of positively stained tumor cells were evaluated and scored.

Results: Among the 30 cases, 6 (20%) showed no immunoreactivity for Ki‑67, 1 case (3%) exhibited mild staining, 13 cases (43.3%) demonstrated moderate staining, and 10 cases (33.3%) displayed intense Ki‑67 expression. A significant positive correlation was found between higher Ki-67 expression and poor tumor differentiation (p < 0.05). High-grade tumors (moderately and poorly differentiated OSCC) exhibited markedly increased Ki-67 labeling index as compared to well-differentiated tumors.

Conclusion: This study reinforces the utility of Ki-67 as a reliable proliferative marker in oral squamous cell carcinoma. Its expression correlates significantly with histological grade, indicating its potential role in prognostication and guiding therapeutic strategies.

Keywords: Carcinoma Squamous Cell; Cell Proliferation; Immunohistochemistry; Ki-67 Antigen; Mouth Neoplasms; Neoplasm Grading; Tumor Cells Malignant.

https://doi.org/10.37939/jrmc.v29i4.3038

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Copyright (c) 2025 Aliya Muzafar, Ifrah Ahmed, Hamna Ahmad, Samreen Hameed, Rabia Altaf, Numrah Bilal Butt