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Proliferative activity in primary breast carcinomas is a salient prognostic factor
Author(s) -
Michels JeanJacques,
Marnay Jacques,
Delozier Thierry,
Denoux Yves,
Chasle Jacques
Publication year - 2004
Publication title -
cancer
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.052
H-Index - 304
eISSN - 1097-0142
pISSN - 0008-543X
DOI - 10.1002/cncr.11916
Subject(s) - medicine , lymph node , oncology , breast cancer , multivariate analysis , lymphovascular invasion , carcinoma , cancer , population , breast carcinoma , pathology , gynecology , metastasis , environmental health
BACKGROUND The goal of the current study was to investigate the prognostic impact of proliferative activity, together with the other classic clinicopathologic prognostic factors (tumor size, tumor grade, receptor status, ploidy, and lymph node status), in breast carcinoma by counting mitoses and evaluating S phase fraction (SPF) in fresh and frozen tumor samples. METHODS From March 1, 1990, to July 1, 1999, a total of 1984 previously untreated invasive breast carcinoma samples were snap‐frozen for flow cytometry. RESULTS After multivariate analysis incorporating all classic prognostic factors, SPF combined with mitotic activity (i.e., proliferative activity) remained the sole prognostic factor in the lymph node–negative group; proliferative activity was accompanied by tumor size as a prognostic factor in patients with lymph node–positive disease and by lymph node status, lymphatic invasion, and receptor status in the overall population. The predictive value of proliferative activity was superior to that of the reference standards (classic prognostic predictors according to the guidelines of our institution [common oncology practice] and the St. Gallen classification). A review of the literature, focusing on series in which fresh material was used, allowed us to demonstrate that there is widespread agreement regarding the correlation between SPF and prognosis, even after multivariate analysis. CONCLUSIONS S phase fraction is a valuable predictor of survival and can confidently be assessed in approximately 80% of cases. In conjunction with mitotic activity, SPF should become a prognostic factor that is used in daily practice by oncologists for the management of breast carcinoma. Cancer 2004. © 2003 American Cancer Society.