[Growth kinetics of breast cancer]

The rate of breast tumors growth was studied in 71 cases on the basis of tumor measurements taken from successive mammograms. Tumor doubling time (DT) varied 2.9-440 days and averaged 94.1 days (less than 35 days in 18.3; 36-75 days--35.2; 76-110 days--15.1, and 110 days and more--in 30.9% of tumors). Mean age proved shorter in patients with DT of less than 35 days (49.5 +/- 3.1 years) as compared to cases of DT of more than 110 days (55.4 +/- 2.7 years). DT in reproductive patients (77.3 +/- 10.2 days) was significantly lower than in menopausal ones (125.3 +/- 16.6 days) (p less than 0.05). Mean duration of exponential tumor growth till clinical signs development proved 8.35 years with a range of variation from 1.75 to 18.4 years. Terms of tumor development was found to match (+/- 2 years) a number of conditions involving changes in hormonal profile as established on the basis of case history.