Postoperative Survival and Prognostic Factors in Breast Cancer : a Single Center Analysis of 4,063 Cases / 한국유방암학회지

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: The incidence of breast cancer in Korea has been continuously growing and is now the most common cancer in females. The proportion of early stage cancer was found to have increased. A survival analysis and the establishment of prognostic factors are essential for proper management of breast cancer in Korean. METHODS: 4063 breast cancer cases operated on Seoul National University Hospital between Jan. 1981 and Dec. 2002, were retrospectively analyzed. RESULTS: The median age of the patients was 46, with those in their 5th decade being most prevalent. The ratio of breast conservation to mastectomy was also found to be growing. The overall and disease-free survival rates after breast conservation were equivalent to those after a mastectomy. The overall 5- and 10-year survival rates were 85.9 and 71.2%, and those of the disease-free survival rates were 79.5 and 68%, respectively. From a univariate analysis, The tumor size, lymph node status, nuclear grade, histologic grade, hormonal receptor status, C-erbB2, Bcl-2 and an age 5 cm (HR 2.4 [95%CI 1.15-5.26]) and NG (HR 0.5 [95%CI 0.35-0.93]) were found to be significant prognostic factors. CONCLUSIONS: Since 1991, patients with early breast cancer have progressively increased. To date, there are more patients with early than advanced breast cancer. In addition, BCS has been rapidly increased since 1993. The tumor size, lymph node status, nuclear grade, PR and C-erbB2 were significant prognostic factors of survival in this our study.