Abstract
BackgroundsPrognostic factors are defined as biological or clinical measurement associated with overall survival and/or disease-free survival. Previous studies have shown that patients with estrogen receptor (ER) positive cancers have a better prognosis than patients whose cancers do not have these receptors.MethodsThis study investigated the assessment of variables in defining prognosis of 742 breast cancer women with pathological stage (pTNM) I-III diagnosed between 1980 and 2005 at the Kyoto University Hospital in Japan, by age, clinical stage (cTNM), pTNM, the numbers of positive lymph nodes (pN), and ER status.ResultsMultivariate analysis demonstrated that pTNM and ER status were the independent prognostic factors for overall survival, and that pTNM and pN were the independent prognostic factors for disease-free survival. For the 0- to 2-year interval, the hazard of recurrence was higher for the ER-negative patients than the ER-positive patients, and beyond 3 years the hazard was higher for ER-positive patients.ConclusionThe present study confirmed the previous reports which showed favorable prognosis of the patients with lesser pTNM or positive ER status. A reversal of recurrence hazard rate between ER positive and negative breast cancer patients beyond 3 years after operation was detected. The fact may indicate the importance of long term adjuvant hormone therapy for ER positive cancer patients.
Highlights
A prognostic factor is defined as a biological or clinical measurement that is associated with overall survival and/ or disease-free survival [1]
In order to assess the independent value of variables in defining prognosis, in the present study, we have investigated the survival of 742 breast cancer patients with pathological stage I-III, by the age, clinical stage, pTNM, the numbers of positive lymph nodes and estrogen receptor (ER) status
Prognostic factor analysis Age (
Summary
A prognostic factor is defined as a biological or clinical measurement that is associated with overall survival and/ or disease-free survival [1]. Prognostic factors are important in the treatment of cancer to help identify subgroups of patients who may need more aggressive approach to therapy [3]. Prognostic factors, i.e., those that predict the risk of recurrence or death from breast cancer, include stage, number of positive axillary nodes, tumor size, lymphatic and vascular invasion, the estrogen-receptor (ER) and progesterone-receptor (PR) positivity, and HER2/neu gene amplification [3,5]. In order to assess the independent value of variables in defining prognosis, in the present study, we have investigated the survival of 742 breast cancer patients with pathological stage (pTNM) I-III, by the age, clinical stage (cTNM), pTNM, the numbers of positive lymph nodes (pN) and ER status
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
