FURTHER ANALYSIS OF PREDICTIVE VALUE OF HELIX-POMATIA LECTIN-BINDING TO PRIMARY BREAST-CANCER FOR AXILLARY AND INTERNAL MAMMARY LYMPH-NODE METASTASES

We investigated the relation between Helix pomatia (HPA) staining of p rimary breast cancer and the presence of axillary (AX) or internal mam mary (IM) metastases, and evaluated its predictive value for AX or IM metastases in comparison with the use of clinical variables. There was a significant association between the HPA staining and AX or IM metas tases. When HPA staining was regarded as an indicator of AX metastases , a diagnostic accuracy of 72%, a sensitivity of 69% and a specificity of 75% were achieved. As an indicator of IM metastases, these values were 64%, 76% and 62%, respectively. In predicting the presence of AX metastases using a discriminant function with clinical AX status, loca tion of tumour and tumour size, diagnostic accuracy, sensitivity and s pecificity were 79%, 69% and 87%, respectively. In predicting the pres ence of IM metastases using the discriminant function with clinical AX status and tumour size, these values were 74%, 71% and 75%, respectiv ely. Therefore, it was concluded that the HPA staining may be useful, but it was equivalent with the discriminant function with clinical var iables in prediction of AX or IM metastases.