Ki-67 and caspase expression in breast carcinoma: does variance in locational sampling exist?

Ki-67 and caspase indices are two very important prognostic variables for breast cancer. The aim of this study was to compare the immunoexpressions of these two prognostic variables at the center, the periphery of the tumor in comparison with each other, and additional parameters in 53 breast cancer specimens. It has been shown that the increase of caspase immunoexpression either at the periphery or the center of the tumor correlated with the increase of Ki-67 immunoexpression at the same areas. There was no statistically significant difference between caspase and Ki-67 immunoexpression at the center or the periphery of the tumor. No statistically significant correlation was found between immunoexpressions of caspase and Ki-67 with the tumor grade, stage, lymph node metastasis, lymphovascular or perineural invasion. The two very important prognostic variables of breast cancer (caspase and Ki-67) were evenly distributed in the center and the periphery of the tumor. It is evident that there is no need for a specific locational sampling when these two variables are considered. In accordance with this information, the differences in sampling due to observer diversity may be prevented.