Software-automated counting of Ki-67 proliferation index correlates with pathologic grade and disease progression of follicular lymphomas

Objectives: To examine the accuracy of software-assisted measurement of the Ki-67 proliferation index (PI) and its correlation with the grade and clinical progression of follicular lymphoma (FL). Methods: High-power field equivalents were extracted from H&E-and Ki-67-immunostained slides of FL, and a nuclear quantitation algorithm was used to calculate a PI. Representative fields were manually counted for validation with close agreement. Results: The PI was significantly higher in World Health Organization grade 3 FL than grade 1 to 2 FL. Disease progression, as defined by subsequent treatment with radiation or cytotoxic chemotherapy, was also significantly associated with elevated PI but not pathologic grade. Conclusions: These data show that software-automated quantitation of Ki-67 can provide both a useful adjunct to pathologic grade in FL and improved prognostic information for patients.