title: Validation study of the UICC TNM classification of malignant tumors, seventh edition, in breast cancer.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The TNM classification of the Unio Internationalis Contra Cancrum was revised for the seventh edition. The major change concerning breast cancer is a change in the stages for patients with T0 or T1N1miM0. In the present study, the seventh edition of the TNM classification was validated in breast cancer.
  
  
  METHODS
  The stages of 416 breast cancer patients, treated at our hospital in 1996, were classified according to the TNM classification, sixth and seventh editions, and their prognoses were compared.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Case distribution using the sixth edition was stage 0, 56 cases (13.5 %); stage I, 158 cases (38.0 %); stage II, 130 [A, 102; B, 28] cases (31.2 [A, 24.5; B, 6.7] %); and stage III, 72 [A, 31; B, 8; C, 33] cases (17.3 [A, 7.5; B, 1.9; C, 7.9] %). According to the seventh edition, the stages for 20 patients, accounting for 19.6 % of IIA cases according to the sixth edition, decreased from IIA to IB. The 10-year overall survivals were stage 0, 91.1 %; stage I, 88.6 %; stage II, 80.8 %; and stage III, 63.9 % according to the sixth edition; and stage 0, 91.1 %; stage I, 88.8 %; stage II, 79.1 %; and stage III, 63.9 % according to the seventh edition. Although no significant differences were seen among the survival rates for stages 0 to II according to the sixth edition, there was a significant difference between stage I and II according to the seventh edition (p = 0.026).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The latest revision of the TNM classification is appropriate for breast cancer from the perspective of prognosis.
authors: Breast Oncology Center, Cancer Institute Hospital, Japanese Foundation for Cancer Research, Tokyo, Japan.
authors: Natsue
authors: N
authors: Uehiro
authors: Rie
authors: R
authors: Horii
authors: Takuji
authors: T
authors: Iwase
authors: Masahiko
authors: M
authors: Tanabe
authors: Takehiko
authors: T
authors: Sakai
authors: Hidetomo
authors: H
authors: Morizono
authors: Kiyomi
authors: K
authors: Kimura
authors: Kotaro
authors: K
authors: Iijima
authors: Yumi
authors: Y
authors: Miyagi
authors: Seiichiro
authors: S
authors: Nishimura
authors: Masujiro
authors: M
authors: Makita
authors: Yoshinori
authors: Y
authors: Ito
authors: Futoshi
authors: F
authors: Akiyama
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000145:classification* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology* / Q000628:therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008408:Mastectomy / Q000379:methods; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging / Q000145:classification / Q000379:methods*; D017698:Postmenopause; D017697:Premenopause; D011379:Prognosis; D015996:Survival Rate