title: Analysis of prognostic factors in Chinese women with breast cancer in southern Taiwan.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  We conducted a retrospective review of all early-stage breast cancer patients treated at the Veterans General Hospital-Kaohsiung to determine overall and disease-free survival rates, and to evaluate prognostic factors for these outcomes.
  
  
  METHODS
  During the period of October, 1990, to December, 1997, 332 patients with early-stage breast cancer were treated at our institution. Cox's multivariate regression analysis was used to select prognostic factors significant for overall survival and disease-free survival.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The survival rate for breast cancer patients was 88.35% at five years. Prognostic factors predicting breast cancer mortality included poorly differentiated histologic grade, four or more lymph nodes positive for metastasis and negative progesterone-receptor status. For disease recurrence, prognostic factors included positive nodes, aneuploidy and poorly differentiated histologic grading.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We conclude that a combination of lymph node status, DNA ploidy, histologic grading and progesterone-receptor status help to evaluate the possible outcomes for patients with breast cancer and to plan for optimal therapy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Veterans General Hospital-Kaohsiung, Taiwan, ROC.
authors.forename: C M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: H T
authors.initials: HT
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.forename: K T
authors.initials: KT
authors.lastname: Mok
authors.forename: C I
authors.initials: CI
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: C C
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Tsai
authors.forename: N W
authors.initials: NW
authors.lastname: Jou
authors.forename: B W
authors.initials: BW
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: I S
authors.initials: IS
authors.lastname: Chen
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015992:Body Mass Index; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality* / Q000628:therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis; D011980:Receptors, Progesterone / Q000032:analysis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D015996:Survival Rate
chemical_list: D011980:Receptors, Progesterone