Table 1.
Basic characteristics of women with early breast cancer 1997-2004 according to use of no hormonal treatment (none), MHT, or VET
| Characteristic of participants | All participants (N = 8461) | None, No. (%)(n = 6371) | MHTa, No. (%) (n = 133) | VET, No. (%) (n = 1957) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Age | ||||
| <65 y | 5505 | 4074 (64) | 104 (78) | 1327 (68) |
| ≥65 y | 2956 | 2297 (36) | 29 (22) | 630 (32) |
| Tumor size | ||||
| ≤2 cm | 5616 | 4098 (64) | 96 (72) | 1422 (73) |
| >2 cm | 2845 | 2273 (36) | 37 (28) | 535 (27) |
| Nodal status | ||||
| Node negative | 4856 | 3575 (56) | 87 (65) | 1194 (61) |
| 1-3 positive lymph nodes | 2378 | 1796 (28) | 32 (24) | 550 (28) |
| ≥4 positive lymph nodes | 1227 | 1000 (16) | 14 (11) | 213 (11) |
| Histological type | ||||
| Ductal | 6528 | 4966 (78) | 88 (66) | 1474 (75) |
| Lobular | 1299 | 959 (15) | 29 (22) | 311 (16) |
| Other or unknown | 634 | 446 (7) | 16 (12) | 172 (9) |
| Malignancy grade (Elston) | ||||
| 1 | 3317 | 2481 (39) | 54 (41) | 782 (40) |
| 2 | 2865 | 2174 (34) | 35 (26) | 656 (34) |
| 3 | 785 | 629 (10) | 6 (5) | 150 (8) |
| Missing/nonductal/lobular | 1494 | 1087 (17) | 38 (29) | 369 (19) |
| ER status | ||||
| 10%-89% positive | 2906 | 2130 (33) | 55 (41) | 721 (37) |
| 90%-99% positive | 2146 | 1638 (26) | 33 (25) | 475 (24) |
| 100% positive | 3124 | 2397 (38) | 37 (28) | 690 (35) |
| ≥10% positiveb | 285 | 206 (3) | 8 (6) | 71 (4) |
| PgR status | ||||
| Absent | 1203 | 883 (14) | 12 (9) | 308 (16) |
| Present | 3344 | 2502 (39) | 52 (39) | 790 (40) |
| Unknown | 3914 | 2986 (47) | 69 (52) | 859 (44) |
| Local treatment | ||||
| Mx/radiotherapy | 1567 | 1232 (19) | 16 (12) | 319 (16) |
| Mx/no radiotherapy | 3543 | 273 (42) | 65 (49) | 775 (40) |
| BCS/radiotherapy | 3351 | 2436 (38) | 52 (39) | 863 (44) |
| Adjuvant endocrine therapy | ||||
| None | 3112 | 2259 (35) | 63 (47) | 790 (40) |
| Tamoxifen | 2007 | 1629 (26) | 33 (25) | 345 (18) |
| AI | 403 | 302 (5) | 8 (6) | 93 (5) |
| Seq. of Tamoxifen and AI | 2939 | 2181 (34) | 29 (22) | 729 (37) |
| Charlson Comorbidity | ||||
| CCI 0 | 7064 | 5289 (83) | 112 (84) | 1663 (85) |
| CCI 1 | 919 | 696 (11) | 11 (8) | 212 (11) |
| CCI ≥2 | 478 | 386 (6) | 10 (8) | 82 (4) |
a
Included all patients using MHT, whether solely or with VET. AI = aromatase inhibitor; BCS = breast conserving surgery; CCI = Charlson Comorbidity Index; ER = estrogen receptor; MHT = menopausal hormone therapy; Mx = mastectomy; PgR = progesterone receptor; VET = vaginal estrogen treatment.
b
In a subgroup of patients, the ER level was only reported as positive (10%-100%).