Table 3

Trends in hazard ratios for breast cancer mortality associated with hormone receptor status and different demographic and clinical characteristics

ER+/PR+

ER+/PR-

ER-/PR+

ER-/PR-

Characteristics

HR

95% CI

HR

95% CI

HR

95% CI

HR

95% CI

Age at diagnosis, per 5 years^a

1.05

1.04–1.06

1.07

1.04–1.09

1.07

1.03–1.10

1.06

1.05–1.07

Diagnosis year, per year^b

0.93

0.92–0.94

0.92

0.90–0.94

0.95

0.91–0.98

0.96

0.95–0.97

Tumor stage^c

2.33

2.20–2.46

2.29

2.09–2.51

2.55

2.19–2.96

2.06

1.94–2.18

Tumor size (cm)^d

1.27

1.24–1.30

1.29

1.24–1.34

1.33

1.25–1.41

1.22

1.20–1.25

Axillary lymph node status^e

1.71

1.65–1.78

1.55

1.46–1.66

1.61

1.44–1.80

1.64

1.58–1.70

Tumor grade^f

1.62

1.55–1.70

1.49

1.36–1.63

1.72

1.46–2.03

1.24

1.16–1.32

^aFive-year categories. Reference = 30 to <35 years. HRs adjusted for year at diagnosis, race, SEER registry, tumor histology, grade, stage, surgical and radiation treatment, and lymph node status (positive/negative). ^bReference = 1990. HRs adjusted for age at diagnosis, race, SEER registry, tumor histology, grade, stage, surgical and radiation treatment, and lymph node status (positive/negative). ^cReference = stage 1. HRs adjusted for age and year at diagnosis, race, SEER registry, tumor histology, grade, lymph node status, and surgical and radiation treatment. Stage unknown, n = 4,728. ^dCategories = 0 to <1, 1 to <2, 2 to <3, 3 to <4, 4 to <5, 5 to <10, ≥10 cm. Reference = 0 to <1 cm. HRs adjusted for age and year at diagnosis, race, SEER registry, tumor histology, grade, lymph node status, and surgical and radiation treatment. Size unknown, n = 7,196. ^eCategories = 0, 1 to 3, 4 to 10, ≥11. Reference = 0. HRs adjusted for age and year at diagnosis, race, SEER registry, tumor histology, stage, grade, and surgical and radiation treatment. Nodal status unknown, n = 22,394. ^fReference = grade 1. HRs adjusted for age and year at diagnosis, race, SEER registry, tumor histology, stage, lymph node status, and surgical and radiation treatment. Grade unknown, n = 24,544. CI, confidence interval; ER, estrogen receptor; HR, hazard ratio; PR, progesterone receptor; SEER, Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results.

Dunnwald et al. Breast Cancer Research 2007 9:R6   doi:10.1186/bcr1639