Search PubMed⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

K W Andersen

Publications and source records attributed to K W Andersen.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

Beneficial effect of adjuvant tamoxifen therapy in primary breast cancer patients with high oestrogen receptor values.

Oestrogen receptor concentrations were measured in primary tumours of 291 postmenopausal breast cancer patients with high risk of recurrence. These patients were a subset of the 1650 patients participating in the Danish Breast Cancer Cooperative Group's trial of adjuvant treatment with tamoxifen (30 mg daily for one year). A cut-off point of 10 fmol/mg cytosol protein and the use of a Cox proportional hazards model distinguished between patients with long recurrence-free survivals and those with early recurrent disease. The use of this model also showed that patients with an oestrogen-receptor content below 100 fmol/mg did not benefit from the endocrine therapy, while those with concentrations above 100 fmol/mg had a significantly longer recurrence-free survival. This finding is consistent with the response of advanced breast cancer to endocrine treatment.

Aged↗

Argyrophilic cells in 202 human mucinous breast carcinomas. Relation to histopathologic and clinical factors.

Two hundred two human, mucinous breast carcinomas were investigated for the presence of argyrophilic granules, and these granules were found in 25% of the cases. The granules were located in the cytoplasm and were heterogeneously distributed within the tumors. Tumors with granules were otherwise morphologically indistinguishable from those tumors without granules. The recurrence-free survival was independent of the presence of granules, and no relation was found to other clinical or histopathologic factors. Tumors with granules were found to be estrogen-receptor positive, and they appear to have a slightly less aggressive growth pattern than tumors without granules, but the difference is far from being statistically significant. It is concluded that there is no convincing evidence that this group of primary breast carcinomas with argyrophilia originates from APUD cells.

APUD Cells↗

Bone metastases in primary operable breast cancer. The role of serial scintigraphy.

In 1978 and 1979, 1060 Danish patients with primary operable breast cancer were bone-scanned for osseous metastases before entering a nationwide therapeutical trial. A re-reading group interpreted the scans produced in 12 participating hospitals. As a consequence standardized guide-lines for interpretation were agreed upon from 1979. The frequency of positive bone scans suggesting bone metastases fell abruptly from 1978 to 1979, as read both locally and by the re-reading group. As measured statistically the difference between the interpretation of the local and the re-reading groups remained unchanged. Of the 1060 patients 760 were followed by repeated pre-scheduled scans 6 and 12 months after surgery until any kind of recurrence was diagnosed. Only 37 of the 760 patients (4.9%) developed bone metastases verified by radiology or autopsy during the first 2 yr after surgery. A single positive scan, especially performed 6 or 12 months after surgery, as well as two or three scans repeatedly staying or becoming positive increase significantly the risk of developing bone metastases within 12 months after the latest scan. In 13 of the 37 patients with otherwise subsequently proven bone metastases the latest scan(s) were negative. It is concluded that a fixed schedule of repeated bone scans in patients with breast cancer is not warranted.

Bone Neoplasms↗

Prognostic significance of residual cancer tissue after diagnostic biopsy in breast carcinoma. Three-year short-term results.

Among 3264 cases of breast carcinoma undergoing diagnostic biopsy and frozen section followed by one-stage mastectomy, the occurrence of residual cancer tissue (RCT) was evaluated as part of a prospective, nationwide trial in Denmark. RCT was defined by the presence of cancer left in relation to the biopsy cavity in the mastectomy specimen. A significantly higher cumulative recurrence rate within 3 yr was found in cases with residual cancer compared to cases without this finding. The difference was most pronounced in the premenopausal high-risk group. Therefore, RCT in the wall of the biopsy cavity is considered a prognostic hazard by itself.

Biopsy↗

Antiestrogen treatment of postmenopausal women with primary high risk breast cancer.

The role of antiestrogen treatment in high risk postmenopausal patients with primary breast cancer is currently evaluated in a nationwide, prospective randomized trial conducted by the Danish Breast Cancer Cooperative Group. The primary treatment is total mastectomy and radiotherapy. As of February 1, 1982, 720 women were randomized to treatment with tamoxifen (30 mg daily for 1 year) and 691 women were randomized to no further therapy. Life-table analysis after 36 months shows a difference in recurrence rates of 9% (p = 0.19) in favor of the tamoxifen-treated patients. The material has been analyzed with respect to established prognostic factors such as age, degree of anaplasia, tumor size, and number of positive nodes. The rates of recurrent disease are lower in all subsets of patients treated with tamoxifen, but are only statistically significant in patients 50-59 years of age or with 4 or more positive lymph nodes. Regardless of treatment, ER negative patients have a 23% higher recurrence rate than ER positive patients after 18 months of analysis (p = 0.0033); this represents an approximate doubling of risk, and is independent of age, degree of anaplasia, tumor size, or lymph node status. With regard to PgR status, there is 11% higher recurrence rate in the PgR negative than in the PgR positive patients (p = 0.097).

Actuarial Analysis↗

Adjuvant chemotherapy with cyclophosphamide or CMF in premenopausal women with stage II breast cancer.

After total mastectomy and partial axillary dissection, 805 premenopausal women with stage II breast cancer were randomized to receive postoperative radiotherapy (RT) alone, RT + cyclophosphamide (C) for 12 monthly cycles, or RT + cyclophosphamide/methotrexate/5-fluorouracil (CMF) for 12 monthly cycles. At 3 years actuarial relapse-free survival for RT + C and RT + CMF was significantly better than for RT alone (p = 0.0009 and 0.0001, respectively). There was no significant difference in relapse-free survival between RT + C and RT + CMF. C resulted in more pronounced haematologic toxicity and a higher frequency of amenorrhoea and of alopecia than CMF, while CMF resulted in more pronounced nausea and stomatitis than C. In the preliminary results, C alone may be as effective as CMF in prolonging relapse-free survival in premenopausal women with stage II breast cancer.

Adult↗

What do early bone scans tell about breast cancer patients?

In 1978, 1012 out of a total of 1888 Danish breast cancer patients registered for a nationwide therapeutical trial were bone-scanned to find osseous metastases. A re-reading group (N.R., O.M. and S.P.N.) interpreted 842 of the scans produced in the twelve participating hospitals. Specific criteria were used for grading the scintiscans. Of the 842 scans 682 were performed within 30 days of the operation and were defined as initial. The re-reading group found 50 (7%) of these scans to be equivocal and 46 (7%) to be indicative of bone metastases at the time of operation. The number of X-ray-verified bone metastases was only 5 (0.6%). The frequency of positive bone scans correlated with the age of the patients and tumor size, but not with clinical staging at the time of operation, number of positive axillary lymph nodes or degree of tumor anaplasia. Recurrences and death rates during a 2-yr follow-Up period correlated significantly with initial clinical staging. In the clinical low-risk group a positive initial bone scan worsened the prognosis, but this was not statistically significant for all patients grouped together. Although the prognostic value of the initial bone scan per se is dubious, it serves as a guidance for elective X-ray examination and as a basis for comparing subsequent scans.

Age Factors↗

Selection of high risk groups among prognostically favorable patients with breast cancer.

In a prospective, nationwide, decentralized breast cancer project conducted by The Danish Breast Cancer Cooperative Group (DBCG) the recurrence rate within the first year after surgery was analysed in relation to tumor anaplasia. One thousand forty-eight patients met the requirements of eligibility, i.e. tumor size less than or equal to 5 cm with negative axillary nodes, and no skin or deep invasion. The recurrence rates in tumors with anaplasia Grades I, II, and III were 4, 9, and 14%, respectively (p = 0.001). Therefore, it seems possible, prospectively, among otherwise prognostically favorable patients, to select a group with high risk of recurrence which might benefit from adjuvant systemic therapy.

Anaplasia↗

[Induced abortion].

Explore the source record for details and available documents.

Abortion, Induced↗