Do Ki67, S-phase, S + G2M and DNA ploidy, evaluated by flow cytometry, reveal locoregional metastasis in oral cavity and oropharynx carcinomas?

Tumour cell proliferation is an important biological prognostic parameter to be considered alongside clinical and histopathological parameters. It has been evaluated by immunohistochemistry using proliferative markers (PCNA, Ki67, etc.) and by flow cytometry considering DNA content, growth fraction (S + G2M) and S-phase fraction. Our aim was to evaluate by flow cytometry both Ki67 and S-phase fraction, S + G2M, DNA content in patients surgically treated for oral cavity and/or oropharynx carcinomas. The study, performed on archival material, analysed the significance and prognostic reliability of these biological parameters to reveal locoregional metastasis and evaluated their possible correlation with clinical and histopathological parameters. In conclusion, tumour cell proliferation seems not to be useful in revealing the presence of locoregional metastasis in oral cavity and oropharynx carcinomas. Thus, new approaches are required.