title: Prognostic significance of c-erbB-2 oncogene in axillary node-negative breast cancer.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  With the advent of screening mammography more breast cancer will be detected at an earlier stage, apparently confined to the breast with no nodal involvement. However, 30% of these will recur due to micrometastases present at the time of diagnosis. Chemotherapy and tamoxifen have been shown to improve disease-free survival in axillary node-negative patients but not overall survival. In the search for a useful predictor of breast cancer recurrence the relationship between c-erbB-2 expression and recurrence and survival was examined.
  
  
  METHODS
  Eighty-eight axillary node-negative breast cancer patients were followed up for at least 5 years.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There was a significant relationship between c-erbB-2 expression and both tumour recurrence (P<0.001) and poorer survival (P=0.003). In a Cox multiple regression analysis, c-erbB-2 staining remained the only significant prognostic variable for recurrence (P=0.002) and survival (P=0.032). Tumour recurrence in c-erbB-2-positive cases tended to occur early in the course of follow up and was associated with poorer survival.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  C-erbB-2 was found to be a useful prognostic indicator for early recurrence and poorer survival in axillary node-negative breast cancer patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Westmead Hospital, New South wales, Australia.
authors.forename: J G
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Molland
authors.forename: B H
authors.initials: BH
authors.lastname: Barraclough
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Gebski
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Milliken
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bilous
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001365:Axilla; D001940:Breast / Q000473:pathology; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology; D018270:Carcinoma, Ductal, Breast / Q000235:genetics* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology; D018275:Carcinoma, Lobular / Q000235:genetics* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology; D003627:Data Interpretation, Statistical; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D018734:Genes, erbB-2; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008593:Menopause; D008875:Middle Aged; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local; D011379:Prognosis; D013997:Time Factors