RELATION BETWEEN SOCIOECONOMIC DEPRIVATION AND PATHOLOGICAL PROGNOSTIC FACTORS IN WOMEN WITH BREAST-CANCER

Objective-To investigate the relation between socioeconomic deprivatio n and pathological prognostic factors in women with breast cancer as a possible explanation for socioeconomic differences in survival. Desig n-Retrospective analysis of data from cancer registry and from patholo gy and biochemistry records. Setting-Catchment areas of two large teac hing hospitals in Glasgow. Subjects-1361 women aged under 75 who had b reast cancer diagnosed between 1980 and 1987. Main outcome measures-Tu mour size, axillary lymph node status, histological grade, and oestrog en receptor concentration in relation to deprivation category of area of residence. Results-There was no significant relation between socioe conomic deprivation and four pathological prognostic factors: 93 (32%) women in the most affluent group presented with tumours less than 20 mm in size compared with 91 (31%) women in the most deprived group; 15 2 (48%) of the most affluent group presented with negative nodes compa red with 129 (46%) of the most deprived group; 23 (22%) of the most af fluent group presented with grade I tumours compared with 12 (17%) of the most deprived group; and 142 (51%) of the most affluent group had a low oestrogen receptor concentration at presentation compared with 1 48 (52%) of the most deprived group. None of these differences was sta tistically significant. Conclusions-Differences in survival from breas t cancer by socioeconomic deprivation category could not be accounted for by differences in tumour stage or biology. Other possible explanat ions, such as differences in treatment or in host response, should be investigated.