Taxane containing regimens for metastatic breast cancer.
BACKGROUND
It is generally accepted that taxanes are among the most active chemotherapy agents in the management of metastatic breast cancer.


OBJECTIVE
To identify and review the randomised evidence comparing taxane containing chemotherapy regimens with regimens not containing a taxane in the management of women with metastatic breast cancer.


METHODS
The specialised register maintained by the Editorial Base of the Cochrane Breast Cancer Group was searched on 2nd May 2003 using the codes for "advanced breast cancer", "chemotherapy". Details of the search strategy applied by the Group to create the register, and the procedure used to code references, are described in the Group's module on the Cochrane Library.


METHODS
Randomised trials comparing taxane-containing chemotherapy regimens with regimens not containing taxanes in women with metastatic breast cancer.


METHODS
Data were collected from published trials. Studies were assessed for eligiblity and quality, and data were extracted, by two independent reviewers. Hazard ratios were derived for time-to-event outcomes where possible, and a fixed effect model was used for meta-analysis. Response rates were analysed as dichotomous variables. Toxicity and quality of life data were extracted where present.


RESULTS
Twenty eligible trials were identified of which 17 had published at least some results, and 12 had published time-to-event data. The quality of randomisation was generally not described. An estimated 2659 deaths in 3643 randomised women demonstrate a statistically significant difference in favour of taxane-containing regimens with a HR for overall survival of 0.90 (95% CI=0.84-0.97, p=0.009) and no significant heterogeneity. If the analysis is restricted to trials of firstline chemotherapy the HR changes to 0.92 and is no longer statistically significant (95% CI 0.84-1.02, p=0.12). There was also a significant difference in favour of taxanes in relation to time to progression (overall HR 0.87, 95%CI 0.81-0.93, p<0.0001) and overall response (overall OR 1.29, 95%CI 1.13-1.47, p<0.0001) however there was strong statistical evidence of heterogeneity (P<0.00001), probably reflecting the varying efficacy of the comparator regimens used in the trials.


CONCLUSIONS
When all trials are considered, taxane-containing regimens appear to improve overall survival, time to progression and overall response in women with metastatic breast cancer. The degree of heterogeneity encountered indicates that taxane-containing regimens are more effective than some, but not all non-taxane-containing regimens.
Ghersi
D
D
NHMRC Clinical Trials Centre, The University of Sydney, Locked Bag 77, Camperdown, NSW, Australia.
Wilcken
N
N
Simes
J
J
Donoghue
E
E
D018931:Antineoplastic Agents, Hormonal / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality; D001952:Bridged-Ring Compounds / Q000627:therapeutic use; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D017239:Paclitaxel / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D013629:Tamoxifen / Q000627:therapeutic use; D043823:Taxoids
D018931:Antineoplastic Agents, Hormonal; D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic; D001952:Bridged-Ring Compounds; D043823:Taxoids; D013629:Tamoxifen; C080625:taxane; D017239:Paclitaxel