Table 1.

Characteristics of breast cancer patients and control group.

Study group			Number of patients
EXAMINED GROUPS	Breast cancer patients	Ductal adenocarcinoma	100
	Median age (range)		57 (21-84)
	Tumor stage	I	34
		II	41
		III and IV	25
	Menopausal status:
	(i) premenopausal		22
	(ii) postmenopausal		78
CONTROL GROUPS	Benign breast tumor group		35
		adenoma	12
		fibroadenoma	23
	Median age (range)		39 (21-63)
	Menopausal status:
	(i) premenopausal		12
	(ii) postmenopausal		23
	Healthy women		35
	Median age (range)		37 (21-58)
	Menopausal status:
	(i) premenopausal		15
	(ii) postmenopausal		20