Tumour kinetics in breast cancer.
In vivo bromodeoxyuridine was used to measure the 'bromo' labelling index (LI,%), the duration of the S-phase (Ts, hours) and the potential tumour doubling time (Tpot, days) in women with stages I-IV breast cancer. These were studied in relation to lymph node status, tumour size, histological grade, oestrogen receptor status (ER), ploidy and S-phase fraction (SPF). In our patients, a LI of 10%, a Tpot of 2 days or an SPF of 9-10.5% predicted aggressive breast cancer. The LI was significantly higher (5%) in ER-negative than in ER-positive (2%) tumours (P = 0.03). There was a trend towards increased DNA synthesis in cancers with an SPF over 10% (P = 0.08). ER-negative breast cancers over 2 cm in diameter had shorter median Tpots of 5.3 days (P = 0.02) and 8 days (P = 0.05) compared with smaller, ER-positive tumours. A trend towards faster growth rates was seen in lymph node-positive, high-SPF (> 10%) breast cancers. Tumour kinetics may have additional prognostic value in the selection of node-negative patients for adjuvant therapy.
Winters
Z
Z
Department of Surgery, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg.
Mohube
P
P
Gray
C
C
Wright
C
C
Teare
J
J
Lange
M
M
Mannell
A
A
Myburgh
J A
JA
D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D001973:Bromodeoxyuridine / Q000378:metabolism*; D002455:Cell Division; D004273:DNA, Neoplasm / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D006801:Humans; D007700:Kinetics; D008875:Middle Aged; D008940:Mitotic Index; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen / Q000032:analysis
D004273:DNA, Neoplasm; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen; D001973:Bromodeoxyuridine