Demographic, clinical and social characteristics of study participants and non-participants at baseline.

afor comparison of responders and non-responders;
bTaxane based regimens were: TC(4): Docetaxel 75 mg/m2 plus cyclophosphamide 600 mg/m2 every 3 weeks×4 cycles: n = 20 patients (38.5%); or 6 cycles: TC(6), n = 1 (1.9%); TCarbo: Docetaxel 75 mg/m2 plus carboplatin AUC 6 every 3 weeks×6 cycles: n = 3 (5.8%);
cSequential anthracycline → taxane regimens were: AC(4)-T(4): Doxorubicin 60 mg/m2 plus cyclophosphamide 600 mg/m2 every 3 weeks×4 cycles followed by docetaxel 100 mg/m2 every 3 weeks×4 cycles: n = 4 (7.7%); ddAC(4)-T(4): Doxorubicin 60 mg/m2 plus cyclophosphamide 600 mg/m2 every 2 weeks×4 cycles followed by paclitaxel 175 mg/m2 every 2 weeks×4 cycles (with G-CSF during each of 8 cycles): n = 5 (9.6%); AC(4)-T(12): Doxorubicin 60 mg/m2 plus cyclophosphamide 600 mg/m2 every 3 weeks×4 cycles followed by paclitaxel 80 mg/m2 weekly×12 cycles: n = 2 (3.8%); ddAC(4)-T(12): Doxorubicin 60 mg/m2 plus cyclophosphamide 600 mg/m2 every 2 weeks by 4 cycles (with G-CSF during each of 4 cycles) followed by paclitaxel 80 mg/m2 weekly×12 cycles: n = 4 (7.7%); FEC(3)-D(3): 5-fluorouracil 500 mg/m2 plus epirubicin 100 mg/m2 plus cyclophosphamide 500 mg/m2 every 3 weeks followed by docetaxel 100 mg/m2 every 3 weeks×3 cycles: n = 13 (25.0%).
Notes. Cancer stage as per AJCC Cancer Staging Manual. Seventh edition. Numbers in parentheses are total chemotherapy cycles received for each type. dd = dose dense (given over a 2-week cycle).