Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42315709›Full record

SynthesisAnnals of surgical oncology2026

Impact of Surgical Delay on Breast Cancer Prognosis: Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

Camille Gervais, Khadija Brouillette, Tarek Benzouak, Selin Katya Altuntur, Ipshita Prakash, Stephanie M Wong, Sarkis Meterissian

Abstract readSystematic ReviewMeta-Analysis
PubMed Publisher
In one paragraph

Synthesis in Annals of surgical oncology, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

7 authors.

Camille Gervais *Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada.
Khadija Brouillette *Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada.
Tarek BenzouakFaculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada.
Selin Katya AltunturMcConnell Resource Centre Medical Library, McGill University Health Centre, Montreal, QC, Canada.
Ipshita PrakashDepartment of Surgery, Jewish General Hospital, Montreal, QC, Canada.
Stephanie M WongDepartment of Surgery, Jewish General Hospital, Montreal, QC, Canada.
Sarkis MeterissianDepartment of General Surgery, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada. sarkis.meterissian@mcgill.ca.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundTimely surgery is a key determinant of breast cancer outcomes; however, prior studies are inconsistent due to heterogeneous treatment pathways and inclusion of neoadjuvant therapy populations. The prognostic impact of delays to upfront surgery remains unclear. We evaluated the association between time from diagnosis to upfront surgery and survival in invasive breast cancer.

methodsA systematic search of MEDLINE, Embase, CENTRAL, and additional sources was conducted through April 25, 2025. Quantitative studies in English or French assessing time to upfront surgery and prognosis were included; neoadjuvant cohorts were excluded. Two reviewers independently screened studies. Random-effects meta-analyses and meta-regression were performed. The primary outcome was overall survival; secondary outcomes included cancer-specific survival, recurrence, and pathologic upstaging.

resultsTwenty-six studies involving 4,921,120 patients were included. Compared with surgery within 30 days, delays of 30-59 days were associated with increased mortality (hazard ratio [HR] 1.08; p = 0.02), 60-89 days with a 12% higher risk (HR 1.12; p < 0.001), and 90-120 days with a 37% higher risk (HR 1.37; p = 0.002). Each additional 30-day delay increased mortality risk by 15% (HR 1.15; p < 0.001). Findings were robust after adjustment, with low publication bias.

conclusionsDelays as early as 30 days from diagnosis to upfront surgery are associated with progressively worse survival. Incorporating defined surgical timing benchmarks into clinical guidelines may improve quality of care and patient outcomes.

Indexed as

Breast NeoplasmsMastectomyTime-to-TreatmentFemaleHumansPrognosisSurvival RateTreatment DelayBreast cancer prognosisCancer-specific survivalDose–response meta-regressionOverall survivalSurgical delayTime to surgeryTreatment interval thresholdsUpfront breast cancer surgery

Identifiers

PMID42315709

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.