Table 3. Clinical and pathological characteristics of metastatic breast cancer patients (n=37).
| Category | Number | % |
|---|---|---|
| Total | 37 | |
| Age (years) at time of sampling | ||
| Median and range | 58 (23-79) | |
| Menopausal status | ||
| Premenopausal | 15 | 40.5 |
| Postmenopausal | 21 | 56.8 |
| Unknown | 1 | 2.7 |
| Histologic type | ||
| Invasive ductal/NST | 32 | 86.5 |
| Invasive lobular | 3 | 8.1 |
| Other | 2 | 5.4 |
| Tumor grade (at primary diagnosis) | ||
| Grade 1 | 1 | 2.7 |
| Grade 2 | 16 | 43.2 |
| Grade 3 | 19 | 51.4 |
| Unknown | 1 | 2.7 |
| Primary tumor size | ||
| pT0/pT1 | 12 | 32.4 |
| pT2 | 10 | 27.0 |
| pT3/pT4 | 6 | 16.2 |
| Unknown | 9 | 24.3 |
| Lymph node status (at primary diagnosis) | ||
| N0 | 13 | 35.1 |
| N1-3 | 14 | 37.8 |
| Unknown | 10 | 27.0 |
| Estrogen-receptor status (primary tumor) | ||
| Negative | 5 | 13.5 |
| Positive | 32 | 86.5 |
| Progesterone-receptor status (primary tumor) | ||
| Negative | 8 | 21.6 |
| Positive | 29 | 78.4 |
| HER2 status (primary tumor) | ||
| Negative | 28 | 75.7 |
| Positive | 7 | 18.9 |
| Unknown | 2 | 5.4 |
| Subtype (primary tumor) | ||
| HR+HER2- | 25 | 67.6 |
| HR-HER2- | 3 | 8.1 |
| HER2+ | 7 | 18.9 |
| Unknown | 2 | 5.4 |
| Metastatic location at time of sampling | ||
| Bone | 24 | 64.9 |
| Lung | 15 | 40.5 |
| Liver | 10 | 27.0 |
| Other locations | 23 | 62.2 |
| Number of metastatic sites at time of sampling | ||
| One | 16 | 43.2 |
| Multiple | 21 | 56.8 |
| Number of previous therapy lines for metastatic disease | ||
| 0 | 22 | 59.5 |
| 1 | 7 | 18.9 |
| >= 2 | 8 | 21.6 |
| Treatment initiated | ||
| Chemotherapy | 14 | 37.8 |
| Chemotherapy and targeted therapy | 9 | 24.3 |
| Hormone therapy | 13 | 35.1 |
| No treatment | 1 | 2.7 |
MBC metastatic breast cancer; NST not otherwise specified.