Demographic, laboratory and clinical data in control and breast cancer groups.

Data are expressed as mean ± S.E., or number and percentage, n (%). ALT, alanine transaminase; AST, aspartate transaminase, ALP, alkaline phosphatase; T. Bil, total bilirubin; † Tumors were graded according to the modified Bloom–Richardson system; T size of the tumor, T1 (< 2 cm), T2 (≥ 2–5 cm), T3 (≥ 5 cm), T4 (infiltration of the chest wall/skin), N regional lymph node involvement, N1 cancer has spread to 1 to 3 axillary lymph node(s), and/or tiny amounts of cancer are found in internal mammary lymph nodes on lymph node biopsy, N2 cancer has spread to 4 to 9 axillary lymph nodes, or cancer has enlarged the internal mammary lymph nodes, N3 cancer has spread to axillary lymph nodes, the internal mammary lymph nodes and/or infraclavicular and supraclavicular lymph nodes; ER, estrogen receptor; PR, progesterone receptor.