Prognostic Value of Continuous Variables in Breast and Head and Neck Cancer
Author Information
Author(s): A. Courdi, M Hery, P. Chauvel, J. Gioanni, M. Namer, F. Demard
Primary Institution: Centre A. Lacassagne
Hypothesis
The prognostic value of continuous variables in cancer may depend on the chosen cut-off level.
Conclusion
The study suggests that the cut-off values for hormone receptors and labeling index significantly influence the prognosis of breast and head and neck cancer patients.
Supporting Evidence
- Levels higher than 10 fmol mg-1 for both ER and PR are needed to distinguish between good and bad prognosis patients.
- No patient having tumor PR higher than 45 fmol mg-1 died during the follow-up period.
- The median LI seems to be an adequate cut-off to distinguish between two groups of patients with different outcomes.
Takeaway
This study shows that how we decide to group cancer test results can change what we think about a patient's chances of survival.
Methodology
The study analyzed hormone receptor levels and labeling index in breast and head and neck cancer patients, comparing survival based on different cut-off values.
Potential Biases
There is a risk of bias due to variability in cut-off values used by different laboratories.
Limitations
The study's findings may be influenced by the multiple tests conducted on the same population, which could increase the chance of finding significant differences by chance.
Participant Demographics
162 node-negative breast cancer patients and 87 head and neck cancer patients.
Statistical Information
P-Value
0.001
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
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