Immunohistochemical expression of Ki-67 and p53 and their prognostic role in ameloblastoma: A longitudinal study

Objectives: Ameloblastoma, comprising approximately 11% of all odontogenic tumors, is a locally aggressive tumor with a high recurrence rate. This study aimed to assess the immunohistochemical expression of Ki-67 and p53 and their association with clinical and pathological factors among patients with ameloblastoma. Methods: Retrospective follow-up data of patients histologically confirmed with ameloblastoma at Makerere College of Health Sciences in Kampala, Uganda from January 2012 to December 2018 were retrieved. Factors associated with Ki-67 and p53 immunohistochemical expression were determined using one-way one-way analysis of variance. Chi-square and Fisher's exact statistical tests were used to assess factors associated with recurrence. A two-tailed p < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: A total of 40 patients confirmed histologically with ameloblastoma were included in the analysis. The majority (62.5%) of cases were of the conventional type of ameloblastoma. The expressions of Ki-67 and p53 were 52.5% and 85.0%, respectively. Recurrence was found in 47.5% of patients and it was associated with conventional histological type (p equivalent 0.042), segmental resection (p < 0.001), tumor size (p < 0.001), and high p53 expression (p equivalent 0.041). Conclusions: Almost half the cases in this study had recurrence. The immunohistochemical expression of p53 was significantly higher than that of Ki-67.