PROGNOSTIC ROLE OF ESTROGEN AND PROGESTERONE RECEPTORS IN PATIENTS WITH BREAST-CANCER - RELATION TO AGE AND LYMPH-NODE STATUS

Aims-To consider the prognostic role of oestrogen receptor and progest erone receptor status in relation to the age at surgery, length of fol low up and lymph node status. Methods-The study population comprised 9 77 patients with histologically confirmed breast carcinoma, with a med ian follow up of nine years. The actuarial life table method was used to test for survival differences. The Cox proportional hazard model wa s used to test for interaction effects between each hormone receptor a nd age, lymph node status and length of follow up. As the analysis inv olved multiple subgroups, significance was set at the 1% level (p < 0. 01). Results-When the patients were subdivided into groups according t o lymph node status and age, progesterone and oestrogen receptor statu s predicted prognosis in middle aged (46-60 years) patients with lymph node positive breast cancer. Their prognostic effect in this subgroup , however, was restricted to the first five years after surgery. Proge sterone receptor status was the strongest predictor of outcome. Conclu sion-The prognostic power of oestrogen and progesterone receptor statu s varies depending on age, lymph node status and length of follow up a fter surgery.