Okines AFC, Kipps E, Irfan T, Coakley M, Angelis V, Asare B, Mohammed K, Walsh G, Ring A, Johnston SRD, Parton M, Turner NC, Smith IE. Impact of timing of adjuvant chemothapy for early breast cancer: the Royal Marsden Hospital experience.
Br J Cancer 2021;
125:299-304. [PMID:
34017085 DOI:
10.1038/s41416-021-01428-4]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2020] [Revised: 03/23/2021] [Accepted: 04/28/2021] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND
The optimal time to deliver adjuvant chemotherapy has not been defined.
METHODS
A retrospective study of consecutive patients receiving adjuvant anthracycline and/or taxane 1993-2010. Primary endpoint included 5-year disease-free survival (DFS) in patients commencing chemotherapy <31 versus ≥31 days after surgery. Secondary endpoints included 5-year overall survival (OS) and sub-group analysis by receptor status.
RESULTS
We identified 2003 eligible patients: 1102 commenced chemotherapy <31 days and 901 ≥31 days after surgery. After a median follow-up of 115 months, there was no difference in 5-year DFS rate with chemotherapy <31 compared to ≥31 days after surgery in the overall population (81 versus 82% hazard ratio (HR) 1.15, 95% confidence interval (95% CI) 0.92-1.43, p = 0.230). The 5-year OS rate was similar in patients who received chemotherapy <31 or ≥31 days after surgery (90 versus 91%, (HR 1.21, 95% CI 0.89-1.64, p = 0.228). For 250 patients with triple-negative breast cancer OS was significantly worse in patients who received chemotherapy ≥31 versus <31 days (HR = 2.18, 95% CI 1.11-4.30, p = 0.02).
DISCUSSION
Although adjuvant chemotherapy ≥31 days after surgery did not affect DFS or OS in the whole study population, in TN patients, chemotherapy ≥31 days after surgery significantly reduced 5-year OS; therefore, delays beyond 30 days in this sub-group should be avoided.
Collapse