PGR and neoplasm: A multivariate analysis including factors that were most significantly associated with DFS and OS in the univariate analysis showed that tumour size (P=0.031) and the involvement of ⩾4 axillary lymph nodes (P=0.036) were independent factors associated with decreased DFS (Table 6), whereas histological grade (P=0.022), PR negativity (P=0.013), and the detection of DTCs before chemotherapy (P=0.032) were independently associated with decreased OS (Table 6).