Table 2.
Distribution and correlation of total, nuclear, and cytoplasmic AhR expression in the whole cohort and in the lymph node-negative versus lymph node-positive BC.
| Whole Cohort (n = 302) |
Lymph Node-Negative (n = 162) |
Lymph Node-Positive (n = 124) |
|
|---|---|---|---|
| Total AhR expression | |||
| Mean IRS +/− SE | 6.66 +/− 4.85 | 6 +/− 4.56 | 6.85 +/− 4.30 |
| Low expressing tumors n (%) | 27 (8.9%) | 12 (7.4%) | 15 (12.1%) |
| High expressing tumors n (%) | 275 (91.1%) | 150 (92.6%) | 109 (87.9%) |
| Nuclear AhR expression | |||
| Mean IRS +/− SE | 4.15 * +/− 2.92 | 4.10 * +/− 2.69 | 4.21 * +/− 2.52 |
| Low expressing tumors n (%) | 27 * (8.9%) | 12 * (7.4%) | 15 * (12.1%) |
| High expressing tumors n (%) | 275 * (91.1%) | 150 * (92.6%) | 109* (87.9%) |
| Cytoplasmic AhR expression | |||
| Mean IRS +/− SE | 2.51 * +/− 2.67 | 2.41 * +/− 2.64 | 2.65 *+/− 2.28 |
| Low expressing tumors n (%) | 125 * (41.4%) | 69 * (42.6%) | 57 *(46%) |
| High expressing tumors n (%) | 177 * (58.6%) | 93 * (57.4%) | 67 *(54%) |
| Correlation between nuclear and cytoplasmic AhR | |||
| Correlation coefficient | 0.539 *** | 0.476 *** | 0.618 *** |
| p values | 5.66 10−23 | 1.57 10−10 | 2.09 10−14 |
The cut-off value between low and high expression was defined as an IRS ≥ 2 (total) or ≥ 1 (nuclear and cytoplasmic). Mean IRS and percentages of low and high expressing tumors were compared for nuclear and cytoplasmic expression in the whole cohort and in each sub-group. Differences or correlations were statistically significant for p < 0.05 (*) or p < 0.001 (***), using mean or percentage bilateral analysis and Spearman-Rho-Test.