Frequent loss of endothelin-3 (EDN3) expression due to epigenetic inactivation in human breast cancer

Breast Cancer Research

Table 1 Clinicopathological parameters of cryo-conserved breast cancer specimens (n = 128)

Variables	Number^a	Percentage
Clinicopathological factors
Age at diagnosis^b
< 58 years	64	50.0
≥ 58 years	64	50.0
Tumour size^c
pT1	44	34.4
pT2	55	43.0
pT3	6	4.7
pT4	11	8.6
pTx	12	9.4
Lymph node status^c
pN0	57	44.5
pN1–3	51	39.8
pNx	20	15.6
Histological grade
G1	10	7.8
G2	58	45.3
G3	49	38.3
NA	11	8.6
Histological type
Ductal	103	80.5
Lobular	15	11.7
Other	6	4.7
NA	4	3.1
Immunohistochemistry
Oestrogen receptor
Negative (IRS^d ≤ 2)	33	25.8
Positive (IRS > 2)	85	66.4
NA	10	7.8
Progesterone receptor
Negative (IRS^d ≤ 2)	33	25.8
Positive (IRS > 2)	85	66.4
NA	10	7.8

Due to rounding, percentages may not sum to 100. ^aOnly female patients with primary invasive breast cancer were included. ^bMedian 58 years, range 28 to 87 years. ^cAccording to the UICC (Union Internationale contre le Cancer): TNM Classification of Malignant Tumours [19].^dImmunoreactivity score (IRS) according to Remmele and Stegner [24]. NA, information not available.

ISSN: 1465-542X