Improved prognostication in small (pT1) breast cancers by image cytometry

Feulgen-stained samples from 460 small (pT1) primary breast cancers were investigated by means of an image analysis system. Several DNA, morphometrical and textural parameters were evaluated for each patient, and the prognostic meaning of these parameters was then investigated by the Cox regression analysis. As prognostic criterion a distant recurrence-free survival of five years was considered. All investigated DNA- and morphometrical parameters as well as several textural parameters showed a significant univariate correlation with the clinical course. In a multivariate approach the axillary nodal status was the most important prognostic parameter, followed by a morphometric parameter (anisokaryosis) and two textural parameters (runlength and co-occurrence). None of the DNA histogram derived parameters could add prognostic information in this multivariate approach. By the linear combination of the four selected variables, an individual prognostic factor was calculated. Using this factor the patients could be split into several groups according to their risk for distant metastases. Thus a low risk group of pT1 patients could be identified with a distant recurrence rate of only 2% after 5 years, and also a group of patients with a considerably worse prognosis and a 5-year distant recurrence rate of 53%. In contrast, using the nodal status as single parameter allows the identification of a low risk group of patients (pN0pT1) with a disant recurrence rate of 10.6%. Therefore, morphometrical and textural parameters can provide powerful prognostic information in small breast carcinomas and may allow a better selection of patients for adjuvant therapy.