Table 1 Characteristics of eligible studies on waiting time to adjuvant chemotherapy and survival in breast cancer

Pronzato et al [8] 1989

Italy (Pros.)

51 yr (range, 27–70)

Mixed

Operable (LN+)

NR

CMF

Median FU: 37 months

Total

229

4-yr OS:78%

7

Age, nodes status, menopausal status, cycle number, individual dose intensity

Reference

≤35 days

116

4-yr OS:88%

OS, 2.61 (1.26-5.39)

>35 days

113

4-yr OS:69%

Colleoni et al. [9] 2000

Multicenter (CT, IBCSG)

78% pts ≥40 yr

Pre.

Operable (LN+)

66.2

CMF

Median FU: 7.7 years

Total

1,788

8

Age, size, nodal status, vessel invasion, and institution

DFS, 0.88 (0.76-1.03)

<21 days

599

5-yr DFS 62%; 10-yr DFS 51%

Reference

≥21 days

1,189

5-yr DFS 57%; 10-yr DFS 42%

Kerbrat, et al. [5] 2005^*

France (Retros., FASG)

NR

NR

Operable

NR

Anthr.-based

Median FU: 9 years

Total

2,602

7

Multivariate adjustment; adjusted factors not reported

DFS, 0.85 (0.65-1.05)^§

< 28 days

1,614

9-yr DFS 60%

Reference

28-42 days

883

9-yr DFS 58%

>42 days

105

9-yr DFS 49%

Cold et al. [10] 2005 (I)

Denmark (CT, DBCG)

53% pts <46 yr

Mixed

Operable

77.0

Classical CMF

Median FU: NR

Total

352

6

Age, tumour size, nodes status, histological type, grade, hormone receptor status, and adjuvant irradiation

43% pts 46–55 yr

Reference

1-3 wks

58

3% pts >55 yr

OS, 0.929 (0.441-1.957)

3-4 wks

92

OS, 1.549 (0.761-3.149)

4-5 wks

75

OS, 1.588 (0.856-2.948)

5-13 wks

127

Cold et al. [10] 2005 (II)

Denmark (CT, DBCG)

40% pts <46 yr 40% pts 46–55 yr 20% pts >55 yr

Mixed

Operable

58.3

CMF i.v.

Median FU: NR

Total

6,065

8

Age, tumour size, nodes status, histological type, grade, hormone receptor status, and adjuvant irradiation

Reference

1-3 wks

1,509

OS, 1.021 (0.903-1.155)

3-4 wks

1,581

OS, 0.890 (0.782-1.012)

4-5 wks

1,423

OS, 1.002 (0.884-1.136)

5-13 wks

1,552

Cold et al. [10] 2005 (III)

Denmark (CT, DBCG)

47% pts <46 yr 41% pts 46–55 yr 12% pts >55 yr

Mixed

Operable

61.8

CEF

Median FU: NR

Total

1,084

7

Age, tumour size, nodes status, histological type, grade, hormone receptor status, and adjuvant irradiation

Reference

1-3 wks

188

OS, 1.218 (0.800-1.854)

3-4 wks

305

OS, 1.045 (0.716-1.525)

4-5 wks

263

OS, 1.238 (0.861-1.782)

5-13 wks

328

Hershman et al. [6] 2006

USA (Retros., SEER)

100% pts ≥65 yr

Post.

I-II

67.6

Polychemotherapy

Median FU: NR

Total

5,003

8

Age, race, live location, stage, hormone receptor, grade, comorbid conditions, SES score, marital status, teaching hospital, surgery, and radiation

Reference

<1 month

2,361

OS, 1.00 (0.88-1.14)

1-2 months

1,846

OS, 1.08 (0.85-1.36)

2-3 months

323

OS, 1.46 (1.21-1.75)

>3 months

477

Lohrisch et al. [7] 2006

USA (Retros.,)

47 yr

Mixed

I-II

60.0

CMF and Anthr.-based

Median FU: 6.2 years

Total

2,594

8

Age, size, nodal status, lymphatic or vascular invasion, and anthracycline

Reference

≤4 wks

993

5-yr EFS 72.7%; 5-yr OS 83.5%

4-8 wks

1,272

5-yr EFS 77.3%; 5-yr OS 85.1%

8-12 wks

217

5-yr EFS 82.0%; 5-yr OS 88.7%

OS, 1.6 (1.2-2.3)

12-24 wks

112

5-yr EFS 68.6%; 5-yr OS 78.4%

Nurgalieva et al. [20] 2013

USA (Retros., BCCA)

100% pts ≥65 yr

Post.

I-III

NR

Polychemotherapy

Median FU: NR

Total

14,380

8

Age, marriage status, tumor stage, size, grade, hormone receptor status, comorbidity, year of diagnosis, SEER region, primary surgery and radiotherapy, chemotherapy, and race/ethnicity

Reference

≤3 months

12,748

OS, 1.53 (1.32–1.80)

>3 months

1,632

DSS, 1.83 (1.31–2.47)

>3 months

1,632