title: Proliferative index obtained by DNA image cytometry. Does it add prognostic information in Auer IV breast cancer?
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate whether the S + G2/M fraction (proliferative index) is a prognostic determinant in breast cancers classified as Auer IV.
  
  
  METHODS
  Prognostic evaluation of Auer IV DNA histograms with respect to the high versus low S + G2/M fraction, obtained by image cytometry on consecutive breast cancer imprint preparations.
  
  
  RESULTS
  When studying recurrence-free survival (n = 136), the prognostic value of S + G2/M was found to vary with time: it was negligible before the median time to relapse (1.5 years) but thereafter statistically significant, in both univariate and multivariate analysis. The same pattern was found when overall survival was used as the end point; the effect was delayed to about the median time until death (three years). Tumors with a low S + G2/M fraction were smaller and more often estrogen receptor- and progesterone receptor-positive than those with a high S + G2/M fraction.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  According to ICM-DNA values corresponding to the S + G2/M region, patients with breast cancers classified as Auer IV can be divided into subgroups with different tumor characteristics and prognoses.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oncology, University Hospital, Lund, Sweden.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Baldetorp
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fernö
authors.forename: P O
authors.initials: PO
authors.lastname: Bendahl
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Fallenius
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Idvall
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Akerman
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Killander
mesh_terms: D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D004273:DNA, Neoplasm / Q000032:analysis*; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D005260:Female; D016195:G2 Phase; D006801:Humans; D019044:Image Cytometry; D008938:Mitosis; D011379:Prognosis; D016196:S Phase; D017741:Survivors
chemical_list: D004273:DNA, Neoplasm