Prognostic Value of Ki-67 Expression in Advanced Lung Squamous Cell Carcinoma Patients Treated with Chemotherapy

BACKGROUND: The relationship between the Ki-67 expression level and chemotherapy response and survival prognosis in advanced lung squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) remains unclear. METHODS: A total of 101 patients were included in the study. All patients received systemic first-line platinum-based chemotherapy. The Ki-67 expression level was determined by immunohistochemistry analysis. RESULTS: The Ki-67 expression level was positively correlated with an increase in tumor T stage (P = 0.0140), N stage (P < 0.0001), and M stage (P < 0.0001) in advanced lung SCC. High Ki-67 expression could predict chemotherapy response (area under the curve = 0.7524, P < 0.0001). Patients with tumors that expressed high levels of Ki-67 had shorter overall survival (OS) (18.8 months vs 25.5 months, P = 0.0002) and progression-free survival (PFS) (4.8 months vs 6.7 months, P < 0.0001). Cox analysis found Ki-67 expression to be an independent prognostic biomarker of shortened OS (P = 0.009) and PFS (P = 0.008). CONCLUSION: Ki-67 expression may affect chemotherapy response and thus has prognostic value. Ki-67 expression may be a promising prognostic biomarker for advanced lung SCC.