Round 1

Reviewer 1 Report

Although this paper addresses an interesting question about how physicians decide to use Oncotype DX assay - it does not really answer the question. The authors used a survery method, they had very low response rate and the number of respondents is not large enough to be meaningful. They could try to extend the study and work harder to recruit individuals to participate. I do not think they can draw good conclusions from such a limited sample size. 

Author Response

Dear Reviewer 1,

Thank you for taking the time to review our work.

You have concerns over our small sample size of 47 respondents to our survey and whether this sample is large enough to provide any sort of true representation of medical oncologists in Canada. In 2019 the Canadian Medical Association released a report that stated there are 625 medical oncologists practicing in Canada. Of these, not all will treat breast cancer or use ODX. Indeed it would be more powerful if we had more respondents but we do argue that 47 is representative of the population here in Canada and that our results would be interesting to practicing oncologists to view. I have included this reference and some words to support our data in the manuscript and have highlighted this edits in yellow so you may find them easier. Please let me if further revisions are required and again thank you for your time.

Daniel Tesolin

Author Response File: Author Response.docx

Reviewer 2 Report

I have no huge comments. It is a shame that the authors had only 20 % response rate. The results would be much more significant.

The decision process regarding the Oncotype DX is extremelly important and especially in younger women with specific molecular sinatures. The authors could cite the publication : Breast Cancer in Young Women: Status Quo and Advanced Disease Management by a Predictive, Preventive, and Personalized Approach. DOI: 10.3390/cancers11111791

 

Author Response

Dear Reviewer 2,

We appreciate your time in reviewing our work.

It is a shame that we only had a 20% response rate, however, in our revisions we try to explain how there are only 625 medical oncologists in Canada so 47 responses is still quite representative of that population, especially given not all oncologists treat breast cancer or use ODX in Canada. You can see these revisions highlighted in yellow.

Thank you for pointing out this important publication about the significance of breast cancer in younger women. We have included a sentence and this reference in our introduction. This highlighted in green.

Please let us know if there are further revisions. Again, we appreciate your time.

Daniel Tesolin

 

Author Response File: Author Response.docx

Reviewer 3 Report

This study points out to various important points on how Canadian oncologists use Oncotype DX for treatment of Breast Cancer Patients.

The results could have more tables and illustrative figures as sometimes the paper gets very descriptive and its easy to loose the flow. It's suggested if authors can have more tables or illustrations in both discussion and results, so the paper is easy to follow for general audiences. 

Overall, important findings. 

Author Response

Dear Reviewer 3,

We appreciate the time you have spent reviewing our work.

Thank you for your comment about the presentation of our results. I have built three new tables as per your recommendation to help present the results in a more efficient manner. Please see these new tables at the bottom of the revised attached manuscript. Please let us know if these changes are adequate.

Again thank you for time. 

Daniel Tesolin

Author Response File: Author Response.docx