c-erbB2 and topoisomerase IIα protein expression independently predict poor survival in primary human breast cancer: a retrospective study

Table 6 Coefficients of the linear predictor in the final Cox regression model (N = 196)

Variable	B	exp(B)	P	95% CI for exp(B)
Stage
II^a	0.72	2.06	0.14	0.79–5.36
III^a	1.69	5.4	0.001	1.97–14.74
IV^a	3.25	25.68	<0.001	6.72–98.17
Estrogen receptor (pos. versus neg.)	0.58	1.79	0.039	1.03–3.11
c-erbB2 (pos. versus neg.)	0.82	2.26	0.0036	1.31–3.93
Topoisomerase IIα (pos. versus neg.)	0.39	1.48	0.005	0.77–2.83
Grading (3 versus {1,2})	t0.62	0.54	0.15	0.23–1.25
Topoisomerase IIα × grading^b	1.21	3.35	0.035	1.09–10.36

^aThe hazard ratio exp(B) of the stage given is the relative risk of this stage with respect to stage I. ^bThe effect of the interaction term on survival can be described as follows: if grading equals G1 or G2, the hazard ratio of topoisomerase IIα positive versus negative is 1.48 (95% confidence interval (CI) 0.77 to 2.83); if grading equals G3, this hazard ratio is 4.96 (95% CI 2.00 to 12.29).

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