Prognostic Relevance of Biological Subtype in Breast Cancer

Prognostic Relevance of Biological Subtype Overrides That of TNM Staging in Breast Cancer: Discordance Between Stage and Biology

Recently, the investigators face "on the edges" for treatment decision to decide adjuvant systemic treatment, especially for patients who show discordance between stage and tumor biology. The aim of this study was to compare the prognostic relevance of the TNM staging system and intrinsic subtype in breast cancer patients who received curative surgery.

Identified patients who received curative surgery for stage I-III breast cancer and had available data on immunohistochemistry profiles including hormone receptor status (HR) status, human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) status, and Ki 67 staining at Samsung Medical Center from January 2004 to September 2008. Primary outcomes were recurrence-free survival (RFS) and overall survival (OS).

Inclusion Criteria:

• patients who received curative surgery
• stage I-III breast cancer
• between January 2004 and September 2008
• had available immunohistochemistry profiles.

exclusion Criteria:

• age <18 years old
• microinvasive carcinoma of breast