The Multi-Center Morphometric Mammary Carcinoma Project (MMMCP) was set up to investigate the reproducibility and prognostic value of routine assessments of morphometric parameters [mean nuclear area (MNA), mitotic activity index (MAI), and multivariate prognostic index (MPI)] and cytometric features (DNA ploidy and index, % S-phase cells, as well as other cell cycle data) in comparison with classical prognostic parameters and steroid receptors. Thirty-four hospitals in six geographic regions participated. In 1988participated. In -1989 patients entered the study and morphometric assessments were made. An interim (1993) Key words: Breast carcinomas, mitotic activity index, morphometry, prognostic value, reproducibility Breast cancer patient mortality is high, and the incidence of the disease is increasing [l]. The purpose of adjuvant chemotherapy (ACT) of surgically treated breast cancer is to eliminate clinically occult metastases and thus improve survival. The presence of axillary lymph node metastases is usually the selection criterion for ACT [2,3]. However, there is no generally accepted treatment for lymph node negative (LN-) premenopausal patients, despite the relatively high risk of distant metastases (15-20% of patients eventually die from metastatic disease). As a result, research into prognostic factors for these patients is intense. Such factors should be accu-
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