What is the clinical evidence from this study?

Study design: Observational. Population: Breast cancer with anemia (n=85). Intervention: Anemia severity. Primary outcome: Anemia-related chemotherapy delay (p=<0.001).

What does this research mean for the field?

Increasing anemia severity in breast cancer patients receiving chemotherapy is associated with a higher likelihood of chemotherapy delay, which occurred in 5.9% of patients overall in a resource-limited setting. Novelty: ClaimNovelty.INCREMENTAL. Consensus alignment: ConsensusAlignment.NEUTRAL.

What question did this study set out to answer?

To evaluate anemia-related chemotherapy outcomes and real-world supportive management practices among breast cancer patients undergoing systemic chemotherapy in a resource-limited setting.

August 20, 2026Asian Journal of OncologyOpen Access

Anemia-related chemotherapy Delays in breast cancer: A retrospective audit of real-world management practices

Q: What are the key findings of this study?

Increasing anemia severity in breast cancer patients receiving chemotherapy was associated with a higher likelihood of chemotherapy delay (p<0.001), which occurred in 5.9% of patients overall.

Q: What does this research mean for the field?

Increasing anemia severity in breast cancer patients receiving chemotherapy is associated with a higher likelihood of chemotherapy delay, which occurred in 5.9% of patients overall in a resource-limited setting. Novelty: ClaimNovelty.INCREMENTAL. Consensus alignment: ConsensusAlignment.NEUTRAL.

Q: What question did this study set out to answer?

To evaluate anemia-related chemotherapy outcomes and real-world supportive management practices among breast cancer patients undergoing systemic chemotherapy in a resource-limited setting.

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Key result

Increasing anemia severity is linked to a higher likelihood of chemotherapy delay in breast cancer.

P<0.001
n=85

Why the study?

Anemia frequently complicates breast cancer chemotherapy and may compromise treatment delivery, especially in resource-limited government oncology centers where diagnostic tests are constrained.

Key Points

To evaluate anemia-related chemotherapy outcomes and real-world supportive management practices among breast cancer patients undergoing systemic chemotherapy in a resource-limited setting.
Retrospective audit reviewing medical records of breast cancer patients with documented anemia (hemoglobin <12.0 g/dL, N=85) receiving chemotherapy between July and December 2021 at a tertiary government hospital.
Categorized 328 anemia episodes using WHO criteria (mild: 11.0–11.9 g/dL, moderate: 8.0–10.9 g/dL, severe: <8.0 g/dL) and analyzed clinical associations using chi-square or Fisher's exact tests.
Anemia-related chemotherapy delays occurred in 5.9% of patients, showing no significant association with age, cancer stage, chemotherapy regimen, or chemotherapy phase.
Across 328 anemia episodes, increasing anemia severity was significantly associated with chemotherapy delay (p < 0.001) and escalation to supportive interventions, including blood transfusions and erythropoiesis-stimulating agents.
Comprehensive diagnostic workups (serum iron, vitamin B12, and reticulocyte count) were not routinely performed for most patients due to resource constraints.

Study Design

Type

Observational (n=85)

Multicenter

Structured PICO

Population

85 breast cancer patients with documented anemia receiving systemic chemotherapy, evaluated retrospectively for anemia-related chemotherapy delays.

Exposure

Real-world anemia management practices (iron supplementation, erythropoiesis-stimulating agents, transfusion, or combinations)

Outcome

Anemia-related chemotherapy delay (defined as the postponement of the next scheduled chemotherapy cycle attributed to anemia)

Main Result

p-value: p=<0.001

In a resource-limited government oncology center, anemia-related chemotherapy delays were infrequent (5.9%) and management strategies were largely driven by anemia severity rather than comprehensive etiologic evaluation.

Limitations

Iron studies, vitamin B12 levels, and reticulocyte counts were not routinely performed in the majority of patients, reflecting real-world resource limitations.
Retrospective design
Relatively small number of anemia-related chemotherapy delay events limiting statistical power
Routine iron studies, vitamin B12 assays, reticulocyte counts, and other ancillary hematologic investigations were not consistently available

Discussion

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Implication

Describes real-world anemia patterns and practices in resource-limited breast cancer care; leaves open optimal evaluation strategies for prospective validation.

Cite This Study

Amadore et al. (2026) conducted an observational in Breast cancer with anemia (n=85). Anemia severity was evaluated on Anemia-related chemotherapy delay (p=<0.001). Increasing anemia severity in breast cancer patients receiving chemotherapy was associated with a higher likelihood of chemotherapy delay (p<0.001), which occurred in 5.9% of patients overall.

synapsesocial.com/papers/6a86b56c8a91293e6a1cccfb https://doi.org/10.25259/asjo_114_2025

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Implication

Describes real-world anemia patterns and practices in resource-limited breast cancer care; leaves open optimal evaluation strategies for prospective validation.

Anemia-related chemotherapy Delays in breast cancer: A retrospective audit of real-world management practices

Key Points

Study Design

Structured PICO

Main Result

Limitations

Discussion

Implication

Cite This Study

Anemia-related chemotherapy Delays in breast cancer: A retrospective audit of real-world management practices

Key Points

Study Design

Structured PICO

Main Result

Limitations

Discussion

Implication

Cite This Study

Also Consider

Also Consider