Outcome after extended follow-up in a prospective study of operable breast cancer: key factors and a prognostic index

• Published in: British journal of cancer Vol. 87; no. 1; pp. 8 - 14
• Main Authors: HAWKINS, R. A, TESDALE, A. L, HULME, M. J, MILLER, W. R, PRESCOTT, R. J, FORSTER, T, MCINTYRE, M. A, BAKER, P, JACK, W. J. L, CHETTY, U, DIXON, J. M, KILLEN, M. E
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Basingstoke Nature Publishing Group 01.07.2002
• Subjects: Biological and medical sciences; Biomarkers, Tumor - analysis; Breast cancer; Breast Neoplasms - pathology; Breast Neoplasms - therapy; Cancer research; Clinical; Female; Follow-Up Studies; Gynecology. Andrology. Obstetrics; Humans; Immunohistochemistry; Lymphatic Metastasis; Mammary gland diseases; Medical prognosis; Medical research; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Neoplasm Recurrence, Local; Patients; Prognosis; Prospective Studies; Receptors, Estrogen - analysis; Receptors, Progesterone - analysis; Steroids; Treatment Outcome; Tumors; United Kingdom > UK; Histological grading; Human; Estrogen receptor; Prognosis; Lymph node; Size; Malignant lymphadenopathy; Malignant hemopathy; Metastasis; Malignant tumor; Progesterone receptor; Pathology; Mammary gland diseases; Histopathology; Number; Mammary gland; Age; Biological receptor; Hormonal receptor
• ISSN: 0007-0920; 1532-1827
• DOI: 10.1038/sj.bjc.6600335

In 1990, 215 patients with operable breast cancer were entered into a prospective study of the prognostic significance of five biochemical markers and 15 other factors (pathological/chronological/patient). After a median follow-up of 6.6 years, there were 77 recurrences and 77 deaths (59 breast cancer-related). By univariate analysis, patient outcome related significantly to 13 factors. By multivariate analysis, the most important of nine independent factors were: number of nodes involved, steroid receptors (for oestrogen or progestogen), age, clinical or pathological tumour size and grade. Receptors and grade exerted their influence only in the first 3 years. Progestogen receptors (immunohistochemical) and oestrogen receptors (biochemical) were of similar prognostic significance. The two receptors were correlated (r=+0.50, P=0.001) and displaced each other from the analytical model but some evidence for the additivity of their prognostic values was seen when their levels were discordant.