The correlation between LKB1, pAKT, pS6RP, and p4EBP1 expression and clinicopathologic characteristics was determined using Fisher’s exact test for categorical variables and Student's t test for numerical variables. Relapse-free survival (RFS) was defined as the time from the date of diagnosis of breast cancer to the date of any cancer recurrence (local, distant, or contralateral) or death. Overall survival was defined as the time from the date of diagnosis of breast cancer to the date of death.
The database was locked at the same time point for all patients corresponding to 30 August 2014, and no events were recorded after that point.
Survival curves and mean and median RFS (if reached), in addition to 60-month RFS and overall survival rates (with 95% confidence intervals [CIs]), were derived from Kaplan-Meier estimates, and the curves were compared using log-rank test [16] . Hazard ratios and 95% CIs were calculated using Cox regression model [17] . All statistical tests were two-sided, and in view of the small size of our sample and the exploratory nature of our analysis, the P value was considered statistically significant if less than 0.1. The statistical analyses were performed using SPSS 17.0 statistics package (SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL).
The database was locked at the same time point for all patients corresponding to 30 August 2014, and no events were recorded after that point.
Survival curves and mean and median RFS (if reached), in addition to 60-month RFS and overall survival rates (with 95% confidence intervals [CIs]), were derived from Kaplan-Meier estimates, and the curves were compared using log-rank test [16] . Hazard ratios and 95% CIs were calculated using Cox regression model [17] . All statistical tests were two-sided, and in view of the small size of our sample and the exploratory nature of our analysis, the P value was considered statistically significant if less than 0.1. The statistical analyses were performed using SPSS 17.0 statistics package (SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL).