Table 1. Characteristics of eligible studies included in the meta-analysis.

Study	Median follow-up (months)	Treatment regimen per arm	Timing of trastuzumab initiation with respect to chemotherapy	Duration of trastuzumab administration (weeks)	Numuber of patients
BCIRG 006 [10]	65	AC→D	-	-	1073
		AC→D+T→T	concurrent	52	1074
		D+Carbo+T→T	concurrent	52	1075
FinHer [13], [14]	62	D/V→FEC	-	-	116
		D/V+T→FEC	concurrent	9	115
HERA [7], [11], [12]	48.4	CT±RT→observation	-	-	1698
		CT±RT→T×1 year	sequential	52	1703
		CT±RT→T×2 years	sequential	104	1701
NCCTG N9831 [8], [9]	66	AC→P	-	-	1087
		AC→P+T→T	concurrent	52	949
		AC→P→T	sequential	52	1097
NSABP B31 [9]	28.8	AC→P	-	-	872
		AC→P+T→T	concurrent	52	864
PACS 04 [15]	47	FEC/ED±RT	-	-	268
		FEC/ED±RT→T	sequential	52	260

Abbreviations: BCIRG, Breast Cancer International Research Group; AC, doxorubicin and cyclophosphamide; D, docetaxel; T, trastuzumab; Carbo, carboplatin; FinHer, Finland Herceptin® study; V, vinorelbine; FEC, fluorouracil, epirubicin and cyclophosphamide; HERA, Herceptin® Adjuvant trial; CT, chemotherapy; RT, radiotherapy; NCCTG, North Central Cancer Treatment Group; P, paclitaxel; NSABP, National Surgical Adjuvant Breast and Bowel Project; PACS, French Protocol Adjuvant dans le Cancer du Sein; ED, epirubicin and docetaxel.