(A) BCa patients (n=144)                  Age at diagnosis           Range Median Mean ± SDb           43-76 59.5 59.2 ± 9.7                                                                   Age group Tumour  size Nuclear grading Lymph nodes Total cases   pT1–pT2 pT3–pT4 Lowc Highd Positive Negative 144 (100%) ≤50 49 0 48 1 4 45 49 (34.0) 51-69 65 14 66 13 29 50 79 (54.9) ≥70 14 2 15 1 1 15 16 (11.1)                                 (B) Healthy controls (n=152)                 Age           Range Median Mean ± SD                  Age group   ≤50 51-69 ≥70 44-77 Controls (n) 50 77 25 60.0 60 ± 9.26         a BC: Breast cancer b SD: Standard deviation; statistical analysis was tested by the Student’s t-test c Low grade is defined as better differentiated type of tumor cells, including well differentiated type and moderately differentiated type d High grade is defined as worse differentiated type of tumor cells, including poorly differentiated type and undifferentiated type

Table 1: Demographic and disease-related data on BC patients and control.