A Novel Molecular Grading Model: Combination of Ki67 and VEGF in Predicting Tumor Recurrence and Progression in Non-invasive Urothelial Bladder Cancer

Purpose: To assess efficacy of Ki67 combined with VEGF as a molecular grading model to predict outcomeswith non-muscle invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC). Materials: 72 NMIBC patients who underwent transurethralresection (TUR) followed by routine intravesical instillations were retrospectively analyzed in this study.Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to confirm the prognostic values of the Ki67 labeling index(LI) and VEGF scoring for tumor recurrence and progression.
Results: The novel molecular grading modelfor NMIBC contained three molecular grades including mG1 (Ki67 LI≤25%, VEGF scoring≤8), mG2 (Ki67LI>25%, VEGF scoring ≤ 8; or Ki67 LI ≤ 25%, VEGF scoring > 8), and mG3 (Ki67 LI > 25%, VEGF scoring> 8), which can indicate favorable, intermediate and poor prognosis, respectively.
Conclusions: The describednovel molecular grading model utilizing Ki67 LI and VEGF scoring is helpful to effectively and accuratelypredict outcomes and optimize personal therapy.