Analysis of prognostic factors in Chinese women with breast cancer in southern Taiwan.
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.
Chen
C M
CM
Department of Surgery, Veterans General Hospital-Kaohsiung, Taiwan, ROC.
Chang
H T
HT
Mok
K T
KT
Liu
C I
CI
Tsai
C C
CC
Jou
N W
NW
Wang
B W
BW
Chen
I S
IS
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
D011980:Receptors, Progesterone