Tumor Size Still Impacts Prognosis in Breast Cancer With Extensive Nodal Involvement
Background and PurposeAlthough tumor size and nodal status are the most important prognostic factors, it is believed that nodal status outperforms tumor size as a prognostic factor. In particular, when patients have a nodal stage greater than N2 (more than nine positive lymph nodes), it is well acce...
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2021-04-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Oncology |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fonc.2021.585613/full |
| _version_ | 1818870799638986752 |
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| author | Yin Liu Yin Liu Min He Min He Wen-Jia Zuo Wen-Jia Zuo Shuang Hao Shuang Hao Zhong-Hua Wang Zhong-Hua Wang Zhi-Ming Shao Zhi-Ming Shao Zhi-Ming Shao |
| author_facet | Yin Liu Yin Liu Min He Min He Wen-Jia Zuo Wen-Jia Zuo Shuang Hao Shuang Hao Zhong-Hua Wang Zhong-Hua Wang Zhi-Ming Shao Zhi-Ming Shao Zhi-Ming Shao |
| author_sort | Yin Liu |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background and PurposeAlthough tumor size and nodal status are the most important prognostic factors, it is believed that nodal status outperforms tumor size as a prognostic factor. In particular, when patients have a nodal stage greater than N2 (more than nine positive lymph nodes), it is well accepted that tumor size does not retain its prognostic value. Even in the newest American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) prognostic staging system, which includes molecular subtype as an important prognostic factor, T1-3N2 patients are categorized as the same population. The same is true for T1-4N3 patients. Moreover, some physicians have speculated that for tumors staged N2 or greater, the smaller the tumor is, the more aggressive the tumor. Thus, this study aims to investigate the prognostic value of tumor stage (T stage) in patients with extensive nodal involvement and to compare the survival of T4N × M0 and T × N3M0.Patients and MethodsFemale breast cancer patients with nine or more positive lymph nodes or with T4 tumors were identified in the SEER registry between 2010 and 2015. The effect of T stage on breast cancer-specific survival (BCSS) was assessed using the Kaplan–Meier survival curve method and risk-adjusted Cox proportional hazard regression modeling. Survival comparison of T4NxM0 and TxN3M0 patients was also achieved using the Kaplan–Meier survival curve method and risk-adjusted Cox proportional hazard regression model.ResultsOverall, 21,696 women with N2-3 tumors were included from 284,073 patients.T stage, nodal stage (N stage), ER, PR, HER2 and grade were all independent prognostic factors (p <0.001). HRs for ER, PR, HER2, grade, and N stage were 0.662 (0.595–0.738), 0.488 (0.438–0.543), 0.541 (0.489–0.598), 1.534 (1.293–1.418) and 1.551 (1.435–1.676), respectively. Notably, HER2 positivity was correlated with better BCSS possibly due to the wide adoption of anti-HER2 therapy. Using T1 as a reference, HRs of T2, T3, and T4 were 1.363 (1.200–1.548), 2.092 (1.824–2.399) and 3.497 (3.045–4.017), respectively. The same results held true when subgroup analysis based on N stage were conducted. In the two subgroups, namely, women staged as T1-3N2 and women staged as T1-4N3, T stage was also a significant negative prognostic factor independent of ER, PR, HER2 and grade. Moreover, 8,328 women staged as T4 with different nodal statuses were also identified from the whole database. When we compared T4Nx with TxN3, it was found that T4 tumors exhibited worse outcomes than N3 tumors independent of other prognostic factors. When molecular subtype was included in the subgroup analysis, survival could not be distinguished between T4 and N3 only in TNBC.ConclusionsIn patients with extensive nodal status, tumor stage remains a prognostic factor independent of other factors, such as ER, PR, HER2, and grade. In patients with T4Nx or TxN3 tumors, T4 tumors exhibit worse outcomes than N3 tumors independent of other prognostic factors. The AJCC staging system should be modified based on these findings. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-19T12:12:46Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-a940843b8eea4bef8c8dcf503932500a |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2234-943X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-19T12:12:46Z |
| publishDate | 2021-04-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Oncology |
| spelling | doaj.art-a940843b8eea4bef8c8dcf503932500a2022-12-21T20:22:08ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Oncology2234-943X2021-04-011110.3389/fonc.2021.585613585613Tumor Size Still Impacts Prognosis in Breast Cancer With Extensive Nodal InvolvementYin Liu0Yin Liu1Min He2Min He3Wen-Jia Zuo4Wen-Jia Zuo5Shuang Hao6Shuang Hao7Zhong-Hua Wang8Zhong-Hua Wang9Zhi-Ming Shao10Zhi-Ming Shao11Zhi-Ming Shao12Department of Breast Surgery, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center/Cancer Institute, Shanghai, ChinaDepartment of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, ChinaDepartment of Breast Surgery, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center/Cancer Institute, Shanghai, ChinaDepartment of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, ChinaDepartment of Breast Surgery, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center/Cancer Institute, Shanghai, ChinaDepartment of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, ChinaDepartment of Breast Surgery, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center/Cancer Institute, Shanghai, ChinaDepartment of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, ChinaDepartment of Breast Surgery, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center/Cancer Institute, Shanghai, ChinaDepartment of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, ChinaDepartment of Breast Surgery, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center/Cancer Institute, Shanghai, ChinaDepartment of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, ChinaInstitutes of Biomedical Science, Fudan University, Shanghai, ChinaBackground and PurposeAlthough tumor size and nodal status are the most important prognostic factors, it is believed that nodal status outperforms tumor size as a prognostic factor. In particular, when patients have a nodal stage greater than N2 (more than nine positive lymph nodes), it is well accepted that tumor size does not retain its prognostic value. Even in the newest American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) prognostic staging system, which includes molecular subtype as an important prognostic factor, T1-3N2 patients are categorized as the same population. The same is true for T1-4N3 patients. Moreover, some physicians have speculated that for tumors staged N2 or greater, the smaller the tumor is, the more aggressive the tumor. Thus, this study aims to investigate the prognostic value of tumor stage (T stage) in patients with extensive nodal involvement and to compare the survival of T4N × M0 and T × N3M0.Patients and MethodsFemale breast cancer patients with nine or more positive lymph nodes or with T4 tumors were identified in the SEER registry between 2010 and 2015. The effect of T stage on breast cancer-specific survival (BCSS) was assessed using the Kaplan–Meier survival curve method and risk-adjusted Cox proportional hazard regression modeling. Survival comparison of T4NxM0 and TxN3M0 patients was also achieved using the Kaplan–Meier survival curve method and risk-adjusted Cox proportional hazard regression model.ResultsOverall, 21,696 women with N2-3 tumors were included from 284,073 patients.T stage, nodal stage (N stage), ER, PR, HER2 and grade were all independent prognostic factors (p <0.001). HRs for ER, PR, HER2, grade, and N stage were 0.662 (0.595–0.738), 0.488 (0.438–0.543), 0.541 (0.489–0.598), 1.534 (1.293–1.418) and 1.551 (1.435–1.676), respectively. Notably, HER2 positivity was correlated with better BCSS possibly due to the wide adoption of anti-HER2 therapy. Using T1 as a reference, HRs of T2, T3, and T4 were 1.363 (1.200–1.548), 2.092 (1.824–2.399) and 3.497 (3.045–4.017), respectively. The same results held true when subgroup analysis based on N stage were conducted. In the two subgroups, namely, women staged as T1-3N2 and women staged as T1-4N3, T stage was also a significant negative prognostic factor independent of ER, PR, HER2 and grade. Moreover, 8,328 women staged as T4 with different nodal statuses were also identified from the whole database. When we compared T4Nx with TxN3, it was found that T4 tumors exhibited worse outcomes than N3 tumors independent of other prognostic factors. When molecular subtype was included in the subgroup analysis, survival could not be distinguished between T4 and N3 only in TNBC.ConclusionsIn patients with extensive nodal status, tumor stage remains a prognostic factor independent of other factors, such as ER, PR, HER2, and grade. In patients with T4Nx or TxN3 tumors, T4 tumors exhibit worse outcomes than N3 tumors independent of other prognostic factors. The AJCC staging system should be modified based on these findings.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fonc.2021.585613/fulltumor sizeextensive nodal involvementbreast cancerprognosisstaging |
| spellingShingle | Yin Liu Yin Liu Min He Min He Wen-Jia Zuo Wen-Jia Zuo Shuang Hao Shuang Hao Zhong-Hua Wang Zhong-Hua Wang Zhi-Ming Shao Zhi-Ming Shao Zhi-Ming Shao Tumor Size Still Impacts Prognosis in Breast Cancer With Extensive Nodal Involvement Frontiers in Oncology tumor size extensive nodal involvement breast cancer prognosis staging |
| title | Tumor Size Still Impacts Prognosis in Breast Cancer With Extensive Nodal Involvement |
| title_full | Tumor Size Still Impacts Prognosis in Breast Cancer With Extensive Nodal Involvement |
| title_fullStr | Tumor Size Still Impacts Prognosis in Breast Cancer With Extensive Nodal Involvement |
| title_full_unstemmed | Tumor Size Still Impacts Prognosis in Breast Cancer With Extensive Nodal Involvement |
| title_short | Tumor Size Still Impacts Prognosis in Breast Cancer With Extensive Nodal Involvement |
| title_sort | tumor size still impacts prognosis in breast cancer with extensive nodal involvement |
| topic | tumor size extensive nodal involvement breast cancer prognosis staging |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fonc.2021.585613/full |
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