Table 6 Univariate analysis: Influence on OS

Age > 65 years

44 vs. 43

29.77-58.23

7.26

n.s.

37.75-48.25

2.68

Age < 35 years

25 vs. 44

7.32-42.68

9.02

0.023

38.5-49.5

2.81

Stage 4 at diagnosis

43 vs. 39

37.74-48.26

2.69

n.s.

25.96-52.04

6.66

Grading (1,2 versus 3)

43 vs. 43

31.94-54.06

5.64

n.s.

37.38-48.72

2.92

Histologic type (ductal versus lobular)

43 vs. 52

38.35-47.65

2.37

n.s.

8.41-95.6

22.24

Positive hormone receptor status

47 vs. 39

38.4-55.61

4.39

0.075

31.95-46.05

5.6

Time to recurrence < 12 months

46 vs. 42

41.52-50.48

2.29

n.s.

35.7-48.3

3.21

Visceral metastases

40 vs. 53

33.82-46.18

3.16

n.s.

42-62

5.1

Number of metastatic sites (1 versus 2)

NR* vs. 37

na^§

na^§

0.003

27.35-46.65

4.92

Number of metastatic sites (2 versus > 2)

46 vs. 33

35.24-56.73

5.49

0.010

19.56-46.44

6.86

Trastuzumab from first-line palliative treatment

43 vs. 33

38.65-47.35

2.2

n.s.

9.02-57.98

12.75

Response to first-line trastuzumab-based therapy

46 vs. 42

36.33-55.67

4.94

n.s.

34.5-49.5

3.82

New metastatic sites at progression upon first-line trastuzumab-based therapy

44 vs. 42

26.05-61.96

9.16

n.s.

29.69-54.31

6.38

Development of brain metastases

33 vs. 46

32.81-43.19

2.9

0.010

40.32-51.69

5.2

Early development of brain metastases

19 vs. 44

9.11-28.89

2

< 0.001

40.07-47.93

5.05