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Influence of Timing of Initiation of Adjuvant Chemotherapy Over Survival in Breast Cancer: A Negative Outcome Study by the Spanish Breast Cancer Research Group (GEICAM)

Breast Cancer Research and Treatment volume 101, pages 215–223 (2007)Cite this article

Abstract

Purpose

This retrospective trial evaluates whether the timing of initiation of the adjuvant chemotherapy has any influence over survival in early-stage breast cancer.

Patients and methods

A total of 2782 patients from El Álamo project (from 1990 to 1997; n = 15,400) were selected with stages I–III, surgery and adjuvant chemotherapy. Data were gathered about prognostic factors such as age, tumor size, vessel permeation (vascular or lymphatic), histological grade, and number of involved nodes, hormonal receptor status and administration of hormone therapy. The time interval between surgery and initiation of chemotherapy, and dates of relapse, second primary breast tumor and death were recorded. Patients were assigned in four groups according to the surgery-chemotherapy interval: <3 weeks (group A), 3–6 weeks (group B), 6–9 weeks (group C) and >9 weeks (group D).

Results

There were no differences in disease-free survival (DFS), nor in 5-year overall survival (OS), according to the timing of initiation of adjuvant chemotherapy. Cox proportional hazards model was used to adjust analysis for known prognostic factors but the effect of surgery-chemotherapy interval remained non-significant. The variable timing of initiation of adjuvant chemotherapy has also been assessed as a continuous variable and no differences have been detected.

Conclusion

The optimum time of initiation of adjuvant chemotherapy in early stages of breast cancer is unknown. The delay in the initiation of adjuvant chemotherapy has no influence over survival in the analyzed time intervals. Retrospective analysis like this one with enough statistical power would be necessary to detect differences among groups.

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Acknowledgment

The authors would like to thank Maribel Casas for her help in data management and statistical assistance provided.

Author information

Affiliations

  1. Fundación Hospital Alcorcón, C/ Budapest, 1, 28922, Madrid, Spain

    Carlos Jara Sánchez

  2. Instituto Valenciano de Oncología, Valencia, Spain

    Amparo Ruiz

  3. Hospital Clínico U. San Carlos, Madrid, Spain

    Miguel Martín

  4. Hospital U. Miguel Servet, Zaragoza, Spain

    Antonio Antón

  5. Hospital La Fe, Valencia, Spain

    Blanca Munárriz

  6. Instituto Oncológico de Guipúzcoa, San Sebastián, Spain

    Arrate Plazaola

  7. Fundación Tejerina, Madrid, Spain

    José Schneider

  8. Hospital de Basurto, Bilbao, Spain

    Purificación Martínez del Prado

  9. Hospital U. Virgen de la Victoria, Málaga, Spain

    Emilio Alba

  10. Complejo Hospitalario de Albacete, Albacete, Spain

    Antonio Fernández-Aramburo

Authors
  1. Carlos Jara Sánchez
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  2. Amparo Ruiz
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  3. Miguel Martín
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  4. Antonio Antón
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  5. Blanca Munárriz
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  6. Arrate Plazaola
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  7. José Schneider
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  8. Purificación Martínez del Prado
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  9. Emilio Alba
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  10. Antonio Fernández-Aramburo
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Carlos Jara Sánchez.

Additional information

The results of this study were presented at the 28th Annual San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium, San Antonio, TX, December 9–12, 2005

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Jara Sánchez, C., Ruiz, A., Martín, M. et al. Influence of Timing of Initiation of Adjuvant Chemotherapy Over Survival in Breast Cancer: A Negative Outcome Study by the Spanish Breast Cancer Research Group (GEICAM). Breast Cancer Res Treat 101, 215–223 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10549-006-9282-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10549-006-9282-0

Keywords

  • Adjuvant chemotherapy
  • Breast cancer
  • Delay
  • Outcome