title: Systematic review of taxane-containing versus non-taxane-containing regimens for adjuvant and neoadjuvant treatment of early breast cancer.
abstract: The use of taxanes in early breast cancer is increasing. However, there are few mature studies of taxanes in this setting, and their role is uncertain. Our systematic review of randomised trials of adjuvant or neoadjuvant systemic therapy identified ten reported trials comparing a taxane-containing group with a non-taxane-containing control group in women with early breast cancer. Four of five neoadjuvant trials showed higher rates of complete response with taxanes, although differences were not significant. All five adjuvant trials showed improvements in disease-free survival with taxanes, and these improvements were significant in three trials and independent of oestrogen-receptor status. Two trials showed a significant improvement in overall survival. These results support the use of adjuvant taxanes in women with early breast cancer and involved lymph nodes. Longer follow-up of these trials and results from continuing trials are needed to clarify the best use of taxanes in early breast cancer.
authors.affiliation: National Health and Medical Research Centre Clinical Trials Centre, University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW, Australia. annan@ctc.usyd.edu.au
authors.forename: A K
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Nowak
authors.forename: N R C
authors.initials: NR
authors.lastname: Wilcken
authors.forename: M R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Stockler
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hamilton
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Ghersi
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D017024:Chemotherapy, Adjuvant; D000077143:Docetaxel; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007262:Infusions, Intravenous; D008408:Mastectomy / Q000379:methods; D008875:Middle Aged; D020360:Neoadjuvant Therapy; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D017239:Paclitaxel / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D018570:Risk Assessment; D016019:Survival Analysis; D043823:Taxoids / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D043823:Taxoids; D000077143:Docetaxel; D017239:Paclitaxel