The Nottingham Prognostic Index (NPI) applied to 467 XXXX (pts) with a long-term follow-up that were treated in a single institution.

@entity1 @entity5 @entity0 @entity1349
UNASSIGNED: 9657 Background: The Nottingham Prognostic Index (NPI) is a validated prognostic tool, based on @entity0 size, node involvement and Scarff-Bloom-Richardson (SBR) grading, that is able to predict survival in pts with @entity0 , and allows their stratification into three different prognostic groups. METHODS: The purpose of this retrospective study was to verify, according to our experience with a long-term follow-up, the effect of some prognostic variables on @entity1349 ( @entity1349 ) and to establish the independent influence of each of them by means of a survival regression analysis. Then we applied the NPI to the same group of pts in order to assess the predictive power and reproducibility of the index. 467 @entity1 with stages I or II treated from November 1979 to March 2002 were evaluated. The follow-up was complete for all pts, with a median of 66 months (range 12-280 m). RESULTS: @entity1349 for all pts at 10 years was 74.6%. A significant difference in @entity1349 was demonstrated for lymph node involvement, @entity5 size, histological grade, age and ER status in the univariate analysis. In multivariate analysis (Cox proportional hazard model), lymph node involvement, @entity5 size, histological grade and age remained as independent prognostic factors. The @entity1349 curves obtained after applying the NPI are similar to those for the factors with independent prognostic significance derived from our multivariate analysis. Pts with NPI 3.4 or less had survival rate at 10 years of 92%, pts with NPI 3,5-5,4 had 73% and 52 % of those with an index sum >5.5, respectively. Similarly, mean NPI was higher in @entity1 <=  40 years old, compared with those > 40 years (p< 0.02). CONCLUSIONS: In addition to the variables used to elaborate NPI score, age emerged as an important predictor both for time to relapse and survival. Future investigations should consider if its inclusion can aid to the developing of a more exact prognostic tool. No significant financial relationships to disclose.
