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Published in: Virchows Archiv 1/2006

01-07-2006 | Original Article

Evaluation of the prognostic significance of androgen receptor expression in metastatic breast cancer

Authors: Walter Schippinger, Peter Regitnig, Nadia Dandachi, Klaus-Dieter Wernecke, Thomas Bauernhofer, Hellmut Samonigg, Farid Moinfar

Published in: Virchows Archiv | Issue 1/2006

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Abstract

The purpose of this study was to investigate the influence of androgen receptor (AR) expression in tumour tissue on survival of patients with metastatic breast cancer. Tumour specimens from 232 patients with metastatic breast cancer were examined for presence of AR by immunohistochemistry. According to the extent of immunostaining, AR expression was classified as score 0, 1+, 2+, or 3+. AR positivity was observed in 164 (70.7%) tumours. The median survival after disease recurrence (SAR) of patients with AR-expressing tumours was significantly longer compared to that of patients with AR-negative tumours (21.89 months, 95% CI 17.23–26.55 vs 11.99 months, 95% CI 9.36–14.62; log-rank test 0.0282). In addition, patients with AR score 3+ had a significantly longer disease-free survival (DFS) compared to patients with AR score 0, 1+, and 2+, (24.67 months, 95% CI 13.72–35.62 vs 16.36 months, 95% CI 13.18–19.54, log-rank test 0.0043). Multivariate Cox analyses showed no statistically significant influence of AR expression on DFS or SAR. In conclusion, SAR is significantly longer in patients with AR-expressing breast carcinoma. However, AR expression is not an independent prognostic factor for SAR in metastatic breast cancer.
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Metadata
Title
Evaluation of the prognostic significance of androgen receptor expression in metastatic breast cancer
Authors
Walter Schippinger
Peter Regitnig
Nadia Dandachi
Klaus-Dieter Wernecke
Thomas Bauernhofer
Hellmut Samonigg
Farid Moinfar
Publication date
01-07-2006
Publisher
Springer-Verlag
Published in
Virchows Archiv / Issue 1/2006
Print ISSN: 0945-6317
Electronic ISSN: 1432-2307
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s00428-006-0213-6

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