Table 3 Univariate and multivariate Cox regression analysis of overall survival (OS) and invasive disease-free survival (IDFS) in early-stage breast cancer patients in relation to EGFR and EGFR ligand serum levels.

From: Prognostic impact of serum levels of EGFR and EGFR ligands in early-stage breast cancer

 

OS

IDFS

Univariate

Multivariate

Univariate

Multivariate

HR (95% CI)

P

HR (95% CI)

P

HR (95% CI)

P

HR (95% CI)

P

S-EGFRa

 < 60.3 ng/mL

–

 

–

 

–

 

–

 

 ≥ 60.3 ng/mL

0.5 (0.3–0.8)

0.002

0.5 (0.3–0.9)

0.01

0.5 (0.4–0.8)

0.004

0.6 (0.4–0.9)

0.015

S-EGFa

 < 296 pg/mL

–

 

–

 

–

 

–

 

 ≥ 296 pg/mL

0.7 (0.4–1.1)

0.1

0.8 (0.5–1.4)

0.4

0.7 (0.5–1.1)

0.09

0.9 (0.5–1.3)

0.5

S-HBEGFa

 < 21.4 pg/mL

–

 

–

 

–

 

–

 

 ≥ 21.4 pg/mL

0.5 (0.3–0.8)

0.003

0.5 (0.3–0.9)

0.01

0.6 (0.4–0.9)

0.008

0.6 (0.4–1.0)

0.05

S-AREGa

 < 5.3 pg/mL

–

 

–

 

–

 

–

 

 ≥ 5.3 pg/mL

1.2 (0.7–2.0)

0.5

1.3 (0.8–2.3)

0.3

1.0 (0.7–1.6)

0.9

1.0 (0.6–1.6)

0.9

S-TGFαa

 < 8.2 pg/mL

–

 

–

 

–

 

–

 

 ≥ 8.2 pg/mL

0.8 (0.5–1.2)

0.3

0.8 (0.5–1.3)

0.4

0.8 (0.5–1.2)

0.2

0.8 (0.5–1.2)

0.2

S-BTCa

 < 9.6 pg/mL

–

 

–

 

–

 

–

 

 ≥ 9.6 pg/mL

0.7 (0.5–1.2)

0.2

0.8 (0.5–1.3)

0.4

0.7 (0.5–1.1)

0.1

0.7 (0.5–1.1)

0.2

Age (years)

 < 50

–

   

–

   

50–69

2.0 (0.9–4.2)

0.08

  

1.6 (0.9–2.7)

0.1

  

 ≥ 70

6.5 (3.0–14)

 < 0.001

  

3.4 (1.8–6.3)

 < 0.001

  

Surgery

Lumpectomy

–

   

–

   

Mastectomy

1.6 (1.0–2.7)

0.04

  

1.4 (0.9–2.2)

0.1

  

Tumor typeb

Ductal

–

   

–

   

Lobular

1.0 (0.4–2.7)

1.0

  

0.9 (0.4–2.1)

0.7

  

Other

0.7 (0.3–2.0)

0.6

  

0.5 (0.2–1.3)

0.2

  

Grade

I, II, unknown

–

   

–

   

III

2.2 (1.4–3.5)

0.001

  

1.9 (1.2–2.8)

0.002

  

Tumor type

 ≤ 20 mm

–

   

–

   

 > 20 mm

2.9 (1.8–4.6)

 < 0.001

  

2.1 (1.4–3.1)

 < 0.001

  

Nodal status

Negative

–

   

–

   

Positive

1.1 (0.7–1.7)

0.7

  

1.2 (0.8–1.7)

0.4

  

HR statusc

ER- and PR-/unknown

–

   

–

   

ER + and/or PR + 

0.6 (0.4–1.0)

0.05

  

0.7 (0.4–1.1)

0.1

  

HER2 statusd

Negative

–

   

–

   

Positive

1.3 (0.7–2.3)

0.4

  

1.1 (0.7–1.9)

0.6

  

Chemotherapy

No

–

   

–

   

Yes

0.5 (0.3–0.8)

0.002

  

0.5 (0.4–0.8)

0.003

  

Endocrine treatment

No

–

   

–

   

Yes

0.8 (0.5–1.4)

0.5

  

0.8 (0.5–1.2)

0.3

  

HER2-targeted treatment

No

–

   

–

   

Yes

0.9 (0.4–1.8)

0.7

  

0.7 (0.4–1.4)

0.4

  

Radiotherapy

No

–

   

–

   

Yes

0.6 (0.3–1.0)

0.05

  

0.7 (0.4–1.1)

0.1

  
  1. The multivariate Cox regressions were adjusted for all covariates (age, type of surgery, pathology, adjuvant treatment).
  2. aCutoffs determined using Youden’s methods for estimation of optimal cutoff.
  3. bTumor type was considered ductal in cases where other histological types were detected in the tumor in addition to ducal carcinoma.
  4. cHR status: Hormone receptor status in breast cancer tumor determined by estrogen receptor status and progesterone receptor status (immunohistochemistry (IHC)). Positive: ER + and/or PR + . Negative: ER- and PR- (in two cases ER- and PR unknown).
  5. dHER2 status: Status of human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) in breast cancer tumor evaluated by IHC and fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH). Positive: IHC 3 + or IHC 2 + and FISH > 2. Negative: IHC 0 or IHC 1 + or IHC 2 + and FISH < 2. HR: Hazard ratio; 95% CI: 95% confidence intervals.
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