Lymph node ratio as an independent prognostic factor for breast cancer-related mortality in patients with node-positive breast cancer

Aim: This study assessed whether prognostic information could be obtained in patients with lymph node (LN)-positive breast cancer based on their LN ratios (LNRs) and explored the relationships between other potential prognostic factors and survival. Setting and Design: This was a retrospective clinical study. Materials and Methods: This study included 608 women with node-positive nonmetastatic breast cancer. Clinical and pathologic data were retrospectively evaluated. The median age was 51 years (range: 23-84 years). All patients received adjuvant radiotherapy after radical surgery. A total dose of 50 Gy was administered to the chest wall or breast and LN regions with 2 Gy daily fractions. A 10-Gy boost was administered to the breast tumor bed. The cutoff value of LNR was defined as low risk (0.65) in 113 patients. Prognostic variables included patient characteristics, disease characteristics, and interventional factors. The primary endpoint was overall survival and the secondary endpoint was breast cancer-related mortality. Statistical Analysis Used: Statistical analyses were performed using the Kaplan-Meier method, log-rank test, and Cox regression analysis. P value was required to be