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Impact of adjuvant chemotherapy delay on survival in cancer breast patients

  • Published:
The Chinese-German Journal of Clinical Oncology

Abstract

Objective

The proper time to commence adjuvant chemotherapy after primary surgery for breast cancer is unknown. It is usually prescribed within 2–3 months after definitive surgery. The aim of this retrospective study was to assess the impact of adjuvant chemotherapy (CT) delay beyond 3 weeks (21 days) in premenopausal patients with ER-absent tumors being treated for early stages breast cancer on overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS).

Methods

This retrospective study was conducted through revision of medical records of premenopausal patients diagnosed with early stage I-IIIA breast cancer and ER-absent tumors who received adjuvant CT after definitive surgery at the Department of Clinical Oncology, Ain-Shams University Hospitals..

Results

Between 2005 and 2008, 105 patients were retrospectively analyzed and included. Patients were divided into 2 groups: Group A including 48 patients who started adjuvant CT < 21 days of surgery and group B which included 57 patients who had CT delay ≥ 21 days. Both groups were matched demographically. Comparisons of overall survival, and disease-free survival between group A and group B patients all favored group A. At 5-year the OS rates were 87% and 73% for groups A and B respectively (P = 0.001), while DFS rates were 85% and 64% in groups A and B respectively (P = 0.001). Analysis of other prognostic factors (age, T, N, grade, HER2 status, surgery type, CT type, local radiotherapy received) were analyzed. Only nodal status predicted for worse DFS (P = 0.05) and OS (P = 0.006).

Conclusion

Delay in initiating adjuvant chemotherapy for early stage breast cancer patients with ER-absent tumors was associated with a decrease in both OS and DFS rates.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Clinical Oncology and Nuclear Medicine Department, Ain-Shams University Hospitals, Cairo, Egypt

    Dalia Abdel Ghany

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  1. Dalia Abdel Ghany
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Correspondence to Dalia Abdel Ghany.

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Ghany, D.A. Impact of adjuvant chemotherapy delay on survival in cancer breast patients. Chin. -Ger. J. Clin. Oncol. 12, 20–24 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10330-012-1070-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10330-012-1070-1

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