Assessment of malignancy potential in mammary carcinoma in elderly patients

Tumors of 89 women, aged 75 or above, that were operated on for primary mammary carcinoma were analyzed with regard to histologic type and differentiation, estrogen receptor (ER) content, and nuclear DNA distribution pattern. The majority of the tumors were invasive ductal carcinomas but a relatively high frequency of papillary and colloid carcinomas was also found. The cancers were predominantly ER-positive (87%) and diploid (70%), indicating a favorable response to anti-estrogens and slow tumor growth. Despite these characteristics, the prognosis of elderly women with mammary carcinoma is no better than that of other age groups, as shown in previous studies. Nonsurgical treatment is often preferable in very old patients. Analysis of DNA profile can provide additional information and prognostic guidance when selecting patients for endocrine therapy.