Table 3

Marker expression and mammographic density stratified by total breast size

Marker

Small total breast area

Large total breast area

Category*

Category

1

2

P-value

1

2

P-value

ERα

% density^†

41.3

38.0

0.55

30.7

33.7

0.61

Dense area^#

29.5

29.1

0.92

34.6

39.7

0.53

Number

63

16

59

19

ERβ

% density

41.3

39.5

0.71

29.9

36.3

0.24

Dense area

28.9

29.7

0.82

34.1

41.2

0.34

Number

50

29

60

18

PR

% density

39.0

43.3

0.36

27.1

33.3

0.19

Dense area

28.8

29.8

0.78

28.3

40.0

0.05

Number

45

36

32

45

HER2/neu

% density

41.7

39.8

0.71

30.4

33.5

0.51

Dense area

30.3

28.6

0.65

35.2

37.6

0.71

Number

55

24

49

28

Ki-67

% density

38.2

42.6

0.35

29.7

30.9

0.81

Dense area

25.4

31.8

0.07

35.8

34.5

0.85

Number

30

49

35

41

PCNA

% density

41.0

39.9

0.81

29.9

33.9

0.43

Dense area

29.4

28.8

0.86

33.7

40.5

0.32

Number

43

38

52

25

* Categories for ERα, ERβ, HER2/neu and PCNA; category 1 <10% staining, category 2 ≥ 10% staining. Categories for PR and Ki-67; category 1 = no staining, category 2 = any staining

^† Mean percent breast density

^# Mean dense area in cm²

Mean values and p-values calculated using general linear models adjusted for age at mammogram, BMI, ethnicity, HT use at mammogram, menopausal status, parity, age at first live birth, age at menarche and family history of breast cancer.

(ERα = estrogen receptor alpha; ERβ = estrogen receptor beta; PR = progesterone receptor; HER2/neu = Human Epidermal growth factor receptor2; PCNA = Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen; BMI = body mass index)

Verheus et al. BMC Cancer 2009 9:182   doi:10.1186/1471-2407-9-182