Kuru et al identified prognostic factors affecting overall and disease-free survival in women with invasive breast cancer and negative lymph nodes. This can help identify patients who may require more aggressive management. The authors are from Ankara Oncology Education and Research Hospital in Turkey.
Parameters:
(1) maximum diameter of the tumor (tumor size)
(2) lymphovascular invasion
(3) histologic grade
(4) age of the patient in years
(5) estrogen receptor status
(6) use of tamoxifen
Overall Survival
|
Parameter |
Finding |
Points |
|
maximum diameter |
< 2 cm |
0 |
|
|
>= 2 cm |
1 |
|
histologic grade |
grade 1 or 2 |
0 |
|
|
grade 3 |
1 |
|
age of the patient |
< 35 years of age |
1 |
|
|
>= 35 years of age |
0 |
|
lymphovascular invasion |
absent |
0 |
|
|
present |
1 |
|
estrogen receptor |
present |
0 |
|
|
absent |
1 |
|
therapy with tamoxifen |
none |
0 |
|
|
present |
-1 |
total number of adverse prognostic factors for overall survival =
= SUM(points for all 6 parameters)
Disease-Free Survival
|
Parameter |
Finding |
Points |
|
maximum diameter |
< 2 cm |
0 |
|
|
>= 2 cm |
1 |
|
histologic grade |
grade 1 or 2 |
0 |
|
|
grade 3 |
1 |
|
age of the patient |
< 35 years of age |
1 |
|
|
35 - 49 years of age |
0 |
|
|
> 49 years of age |
1 |
|
lymphovascular invasion |
absent |
0 |
|
|
present |
1 |
|
therapy with tamoxifen |
none |
0 |
|
|
present |
-1 |
total number of adverse prognostic factors for disease-free survival =
= SUM(points for all 5 parameters)
Interpretation:
• minimum number of adverse factors for overall and disease-free survival: -1
• maximum number of adverse factors affecting overall survival: 5
• maximum number of adverse factors affecting disease-free survival: 4
• Tamoxifen therapy was protective in both measures.
• A person with one or more risk factors for either survival measure should be considered for more aggressive therapy.
Specialty: Hematology Oncology, Surgery, general, Obstetrics & Gynecology
ICD-10: ,
