ISSN:
1573-7217
Keywords:
adjuvant chemotherapy
;
breast cancer
;
progesterone receptor
;
prognosis
Source:
Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
Topics:
Medicine
Notes:
Abstract The prognostic significance of progesterone receptor activity (PgR) with regard to the estimated relapse-free survival (RFS) was studied in 350 one-center patients with primary breast cancer. All receptor assays were performed in one laboratory; PgR levels 〉10 fmol/mg protein were considered positive. Univariate as well as multivariate statistical analyses were used to examine the prognostic significance of several variables. Eighty-nine of the 350 patients received adjuvant CMF chemotherapy (cyclophosphamide, methotrexate, and 5-fluorouracil). The median observation period was 69 months (range 12–125 months). In the group of 261 patients who did not receive adjuvant CMF, the PgR-status lacked prognostic significance; only the lymph node status significantly affected the RFS (p〈0.00001). In contrast, in the CMF-treated group of patients, the PgR-status was the most powerful predictor of recurrence (p〈0.0001). The menopausal and the lymph-node status increased the predictive value of PgR (p〈0.001). Premenopausal CMF-treated patients with PgR+ tumors had a significantly longer RFS than those with PgR− tumors (p〈0.02). The present data urge the need for a reappraisal of the prognostic significance of PgR and of the mechanism of action of adjuvant chemotherapy in primary breast cancer.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/BF01806379
