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

Breast Cancer Research

Table 2 Clinicopathological parameters of formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded breast cancer specimens (n = 150)

Variables	Number^a	Percentage
Clinicopathological factors
Age at diagnosis^b
≤ 59 years	83	55.3
> 59 years	67	44.7
Tumour size^c
pT1	48	32.0
pT2	71	47.3
pT3	9	6.0
pT4	20	13.3
pTx	2	1.3
Lymph node status^c
pN0	67	44.7
pN1	35	23.3
pN2	25	16.7
pN3	20	13.3
pNx	3	2.0
Histological grade
G1	13	8.7
G2	70	46.7
G3	66	44.0
NA	1	0.7
Histological type
Ductal	122	81.3
Lobular	12	18.0
Other	16	10.7
Tumour focality
Unifocal	130	86.7
Multifocal	19	12.7
NA	1	0.7
Immunohistochemistry
Oestrogen receptor
Negative (IRS^d ≤ 2)	38	25.3
Positive (IRS > 2)	83	55.3
NA	29	19.3
Progesterone receptor
Negative (IRS^d ≤ 2)	85	56.7
Positive (IRS > 2)	40	26.7
NA	25	16.7
Her2 status
Negative (DAKO score 0; 1+)	105	70.0
Positive (DAKO score 2+; 3+)	23	15.3
NA	22	14.7

Due to rounding, percentages may not sum to 100. ^aOnly female patients with primary invasive breast cancer were included. ^bMedian 59 years, range 29 to 82 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.

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