[The value of searching for additional prognostic factors in combination with Nottingham Prognostic Index in breast carcinoma patients]

Lijec Vjesn. 2005 Jan-Feb;127(1-2):3-7.
[Article in Croatian]

Abstract

One of prognostic factors known as Nottingham Prognostic Index (NPI), which is combination of known prognostic factors such as tumor size, grade and axillary node status, is recently in usage in some European countries in clinical practice in prediction of breast carcinoma patients' survival. Therefore, the aim of this study was to verify, according to our experience, the prognostic significance of Nottingham Prognostic Index (NPI) in breast carcinoma patients in association with other new prognostic factors. In this study 148 consecutive specimens of breast carcinoma patients were analyzed. The following data for each patient were collected: age, tumor size, histological grade, axillary lymph node status, overall survival, estrogen (ER), progesterone (PR) receptor expression as well as expression of bcl-2, Ki-67, nm23, HER-2/neu, and p53. The Nottingham Prognostic Index (NPI) was calculated from the pathological information and patients were grouped according to the standard NPI index into: good prognostic group (GPG), moderate prognostic group (MPG), and poor prognostic group (PPG). The correlation of prognostic groups according to the NPI with other prognostic and predictive factors such as age, ER, PR, p53, bcl-2, Ki-67, nm23, Ki-67, Cathepsin D and HER-2/neu on overall survival was analyzed. The results of univariate analysis showed statistically significant correlation between patients' age, NPI prognostic groups and stage of disease with patients survival. When other prognostic factors were correlated with NPI prognostic groups there was not additional prognostic discrimination in given prognostic groups. Only marginally statistically significant influence of p53 expression was found on patient survival between MPG and PPG. It seems that other prognostic factors in combination with NPI prognostic groups do not have in our group of patients practical clinical relevance for the management of patients with breast carcinoma.

Publication types

  • English Abstract

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Biomarkers, Tumor / analysis
  • Breast Neoplasms / chemistry
  • Breast Neoplasms / mortality
  • Breast Neoplasms / pathology*
  • Carcinoma / chemistry
  • Carcinoma / mortality
  • Carcinoma / pathology*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Lymphatic Metastasis
  • Middle Aged
  • Prognosis
  • Receptors, Estrogen / analysis
  • Receptors, Progesterone / analysis
  • Survival Rate

Substances

  • Biomarkers, Tumor
  • Receptors, Estrogen
  • Receptors, Progesterone