Fig. 6.
All causes (a) and BCa-specific mortality (b) of study patients according to the four distinct PN tumour phenotypes identified on the basis of both epithelial and stromal PN expression. Epithelial PN expression was analysed using the 60th percentile of immune stained cells, corresponding to 1 % as an arbitrary cut-off. Stromal PN expression was analysed using the median percentage of immune stained cells, corresponding to 90 % as an arbitrary cut-off. All causes and BCa-specific mortality comparisons were adjusted by age, menopausal status, tumour size, nodal status, and adjuvant systemic therapy: see text for further explanations. Negative: 0 % of stained cells; positive: at least 1 % of stained cells; low: less than 90 % of stained cells; high: more or equal 90 % of stained cells. HR: hazard ratio, 95 % CI: 95 % confidence interval