[The practical use of the determination of relative 32P accumulation in the tumor in breast cancer].

The level of relative accumulation of a 32P radionuclide was measured in 180 tumor samples obtained from 148 patients with stage I--IV breast cancer. Mean initial relative accumulation level (IRAL) was 1477 +/- 174% whereas that following effective conservative treatment (posttreatment) (PRAL)--486 +/- 81% (P < 0.01). The prognostic value of IRAL was established: in a group of stage III breast cancer, those with a high IRAL survived 2 years with no evidence of disease in 55.1 +/- 12.1% whereas those with a low IRAL--in 94.1 +/- 5.7% (P < 0.02). In patients undergoing conservative treatment, low PRAL proved predictive of complete response while high PRAL--of tumor progression. In patients with stage III breast cancer who had responded to preoperative treatment and had had a low PRAL, two-year locoregional recurrence rate was only 13% as compared to 68% in a similar group of patients with high PRAL (P < 0.02).