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The characteristics of malignant breast tumors in hormone replacement therapy users versus nonusers

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Abstract

Background

The purpose of this study was to investigate the characteristics of breast cancer in hormone replacement therapy (HRT) users vs. nonusers.

Methods

We investigated the characteristics of all patients between the ages of 50 and 75 years with breast tumors. Then, an age-adjusted group of 55 nonusers was chosen to match and compare with HRT users.

Results

Of the 243 patients available for evaluation, 55 (22.6%) used HRT. Disease stages in HRT users vs. nonusers were as follows: ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS), 20% and 17.1%; stage I, 45.5% and 41.7%; stage II, 30.9% and 26.2%; stage III, 3.6% and 13.4%; and stage IV, 0% and 1.6% (P=.27). In the age-adjusted cohort, stages in nonusers were as follows: DCIS, 7.3%; stage I, 47.3%; stage II, 25.5%; stage III, 20%; and stage IV, 0% (P=.03). Tumor grades in HRT users vs. nonusers were as follows: grade I, 30.4% and 15.7%; grade II, 52.2% and 52.2%; and grade III, 17.4% and 32.1% (P=.035). Grades in cohort nonusers were as follows: I, 13.2%; II, 52.8%; and III, 34% (P=.05). In the invasive tumors, the positive estrogen receptor (ER) rates were 81.6% and 85.7% (P=.89); positive progesterone receptor (PR) rates were 53.1% and 54% (P=.95); and Her 85.7% (P=.89); positive progesterone receptor (PR) rates were 53.1% and 54% (P=.95); and Her 2-neu positive rates were 18.4% and 17.6% (P=.95), respectively. No significant difference was found in intratumor DCIS, vascular invasion, and Ki-67 (P=.14, .9, and .79, respectively). The rate to lobular and favorable histological types was higher in the HRT user group: 26.6% vs. 15%.

Conclusions

Breast tumors in HRT users vs. nonusers were of a significantly lower stage and grade and accounted for a higher number of favorable histological types, but all other parameters were similar in the two groups.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. The Comprehensive Breast Care Institute, Assaf Harofeh Medical Center, 70300, Zerifin, Israel

    Itzhak Pappo MD, Tamar Karni MD & Ariel Halevy MD

  2. the Division of Surgery, Assaf Harofeh Medical Center, 70300, Zerifin, Israel

    Itzhak Pappo MD, Ioana Meirshon MD, Tamar Karni MD, Ilan Wasserman MD & Ariel Halevy MD

  3. Institute of Oncology, Assaf Harofeh Medical Center, 70300, Zerifin, Israel

    Nava Siegelmann-Danielli MD

  4. Institute of Radiology, Assaf Harofeh Medical Center, 70300, Zerifin, Israel

    Varda Stahl-Kent MD

  5. Institute of Pathology, Assaf Harofeh Medical Center, 70300, Zenifin, Israel

    Judith Sandbank MD

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  1. Itzhak Pappo MD
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  2. Ioana Meirshon MD
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  3. Tamar Karni MD
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Correspondence to Itzhak Pappo MD.

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Pappo, I., Meirshon, I., Karni, T. et al. The characteristics of malignant breast tumors in hormone replacement therapy users versus nonusers. Annals of Surgical Oncology 11, 52–58 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02524346

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02524346

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