Survival Benefit of Tamoxifen in Estrogen Receptor-Negative and Progesterone Receptor-Positive Low Grade Breast Cancer Patients.
10.4048/jbc.2012.15.3.288
- Author:
Li Heng YANG
1
;
Hsin Shun TSENG
;
Che LIN
;
Li Sheng CHEN
;
Shou Tung CHEN
;
Shou Jen KUO
;
Dar Ren CHEN
Author Information
1. Department of Surgery, Changhua Christian Hospital, Changhua, Taiwan. darren_chen@cch.org.tw
- Publication Type:Original Article
- Keywords:
Breast carcinoma;
Estrogen receptor;
Progesterone receptor;
Tamoxifen
- MeSH:
Breast;
Breast Neoplasms;
Disease-Free Survival;
Estrogens;
Female;
Humans;
Phenotype;
Progesterone;
Receptors, Progesterone;
Survival Rate;
Tamoxifen
- From:Journal of Breast Cancer
2012;15(3):288-295
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
PURPOSE: This study aimed to analyze the efficacy and prognostic significance of adjuvant tamoxifen in breast cancer patients with various hormone receptor statuses. METHODS: Typically, 1,260 female breast cancer patients were recruited in this study. The correlation between estrogen receptor (ER)/progesterone receptor (PR) phenotypes and clinical characteristics was investigated, and the survival rate was assessed after 5-year follow-up. RESULTS: The 5-year overall survival (85%) was better in women under the age of 50 years. Patients with ER+/PR+ tumors had a better 5-year survival rate (94%); those with ER-/PR- tumors experienced the worst outcome (74% survival rate); whereas single-positive cases were in between. In 97 out of 128 patients with ER-/PR+ tumors, tamoxifen was given as adjuvant hormonal therapy, and it increased the survival benefit in the lower grade group in terms of overall survival and disease-free survival (p=0.01 and p=0.03, respectively). CONCLUSION: For high-grade tumors with ER-/PR+, adjuvant tamoxifen therapy may have no survival benefit, whereas for the patients with low-grade ER-/PR+ tumors, adjuvant tamoxifen therapy is highly suggestive.
