The association between the preoperative serum levels of lipocalin-2 and matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) and prognosis of breast cancer

Table 4 Hazard ratios for disease-free survival and the combined risk scores of serum lipocalin-2 and MMP-9 levels according to BMI and lymph node status

	Combined score ^a	No. of total patients ( N =303)	No. of events ( N =87)	Adjusted HR^b(95% CI)	P	P _interaction
BMI < 25	t1	81	17	1.00 (reference)		0.031
N=229	t2	77	20	1.74 (0.88-3.42)	0.110
	t3	71	25	3.17 (1.66-6.06)	<.0001
	P _trend			1.78 (1.29-2.46)	<.0001
BMI ≥ 25	t1	20	13	1.00 (reference)
N =74	t2	23	15	0.92 (0.27-3.08)	0.886
	t3	31	21	0.92 (0.32-2.63)	0.881
	P _trend			0.96 (0.57-1.62)	0.891
LN –	t1	57	9	1.00 (reference)		0.094
N =170	t2	55	12	3.28 (1.19-9.07)	0.022
	t3	58	19	5.36 (2.18-13.2)	<.0001
	P _trend			2.21 (1.45-3.35)	<.0001
LN +	low	44	29	1.00 (reference)
N =133	medium	45	29	1.31 (0.64-2.68)	0.462
	high	44	28	1.43 (0.69-2.95)	0.335
	P _trend			1.20 (0.84-1.71)	0.328

^a The subjects were categorized into three groups based on the tertiles of combined score: low (1.092-3.463), medium (3.464-4.997) and high (4.998-14.276) score groups.
^b Adjusted for BMI (< 25 and ≥ 25 kg/m²), TNM stage (I, II, and III), ER status (positive and negative) and radiation therapy (Yes and No). For stratified analysis by BMI group, the stratification variable of interest (BMI) was not included as covariate in the model.
LN –, lymph-node negative; LN +, lymph-node positive.

ISSN: 1471-2407