Table 3 Cox univariate and multivariate analysis of the survival in recurrent breast cancer

Age, years

   ≤ 50

1

1

   >50

1.01

0.80-1.29

0.91

1.06

0.82-1.36

0.66

T stage

   T1-T2

1

1

   T3-T4

1.56

1.20-2.04

0.001

1.41

1.05-1.89

0.02

No. of axillary nodes involved

   ≤ 3 nodes

1

1

   >3 nodes

1.42

1.12-1.80

0.003

1.43

1.10-1.87

0.007

HR status

   negative

1

1

   positive

0.49

0.39 - 0.62

<0.001

0.62

0.48-0.81

<0.001

HER-2 status

   negative

1

1

   positive

0.80

0.60 - 1.10

0.11

0.69

0.51-0.92

0.01

Adjuvant endocrine therapy

   no

1

1

   yes

0.68

0.54-0.86

0.001

0.94

0.70-1.25

0.66

Adjuvant chemotherapy

   no

1

1

   yes

1.16

0.90-1.50

0.26

1.18

0.90-1.53

0.23

Relapse free interval

   ≤ 2 yr

1

1

   >2 yr

0.58

0.46-0.73

<0.001

0.89

0.69-1.15

0.37

Site of first recurrence

   non visceral

1

1

   visceral

1.77

1.40-2.24

<0.001

1.77

1.38-2.27

<0.001

Brain metastatasis at diagnosis

   no

1

1

   yes

1.91

1.09-3.33

0.02

2.33

1.30-4.20

0.005

AIs and/or trastuzumab for recurrent disease

   no

1

1

   yes

0.38

0.29-0.50

<0.001

0.46

0.33-0.63

<0.001

Time period

   cohort A

1

1

   cohort B

0.43

0.34 - 0.55

<0.001

0.70

0.63-0.92

0.01