Evaluation and prediction of Ki-67 expression in hepatocellular carcinoma

Core Tip

Core Tip: The incidence and mortality of liver cancer continue to rise. The various screening methods for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) are radiomics, serum biomarkers, immunohistochemistry, genetic and molecular studies. Ki-67 protein in the nucleus is associated with cell proliferation, and indicates the aggressiveness of tumors. Evaluation and prediction of Ki-67 expression in HCC now have a significant role in the diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis of HCC. Elevated levels of Ki67 expression are associated with a poor prognosis and higher risk of HCC recurrence. Recently, radiomics, using machine learning-based ultrasomics, has demonstrated the capability to predict Ki-67 expression as a potential noninvasive tool for preoperative assessment in HCC.