PROGNOSTIC FACTORS IN OPERABLE BREAST CANCER

Abstract

In order to evaluate the relationships among DNA ploidy, c-erbB-2 oncoprotein expression and clinicopathologic prognostic fectors, especially, axillary and internal mammary node metastases, and their values in estimating the prognosis, 189 patients with operable breast cancer were subjected to univariate and multivariate analyses. There were significant correlations between DNA ploidy and clinical stage, tumor size, axillary or internal mammary lymph node metastases, and between c-erbB-2 expression and clinical stage or axillary lymph node metastases. In a univariate study, overall or disease-free survival was significantly correlated to clinical stage, tumor size, DNA ploidy, c-erbB-2 expression, axillary and internal mammary node metastases. In a multivariate study, however, only axillary and internal mammary node metastases were recognized as independent factors on overall and/or disease-free survival. Since the DNA ploidy status and c-erbb-2 expression were closely correlated with the axillary and/or internal mammary lymph node metastases, they did not appear as an independent prognostic factor in this small series.