Modeling Biological Rhythms in Breast Cancer Surgery Timing
Author Information
Author(s): Elkum Naser B, Myles James D
Primary Institution: King Faisal Specialist Hospital & Research Center
Hypothesis
Can the timing of breast cancer surgery in relation to the menstrual cycle affect disease-free survival?
Conclusion
The optimal days for breast cancer surgery to minimize recurrence are days 4 to 12 of the menstrual cycle.
Supporting Evidence
- The study found that surgery during the menstrual cycle's follicular phase is associated with lower recurrence rates.
- Older age, fewer positive nodes, and smaller tumor size were predictive of longer relapse-free survival.
- Statistical analysis showed significant differences in survival based on the timing of surgery.
Takeaway
This study found that when women have breast cancer surgery during certain days of their menstrual cycle, they are less likely to have their cancer come back.
Methodology
The study adapted the cosinor method to the proportional hazards model and applied it to clinical trial data.
Potential Biases
Potential biases may arise from retrospective analyses and reliance on menstrual history data.
Limitations
The study relies on data from a single clinical trial and may not generalize to all populations.
Participant Demographics
Participants were pre-menopausal women with regular menstrual cycles.
Statistical Information
P-Value
0.0084
Confidence Interval
4–12 days
Statistical Significance
p = 0.0084
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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