title: A literature-based meta-analysis taxane-based doublet versus single-agent taxane chemotherapy in patients with advanced breast cancer.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Clinical trials have reported conflicting results as to whether taxane-based doublet improves outcome over single-agent taxane in patients with advanced breast cancer.
  
  
  METHODS
  We performed a meta-analysis comparing primary and secondary end points of taxane-based doublet with single-agent taxane chemotherapy in patients with advanced breast cancer and prior anthracycline treatment. The event-based relative risk ratio (RR) with 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) was derived, and a test of heterogeneity was applied.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Four eligible trials (2,343 patients) were selected from 488 studies that initially were identified. A significant difference in favoring taxane-based doublet over single-agent taxane was observed in progression-free survival (PFS) (RR, 1.33; 95% CI, 1.02-1.75; P = 0.039) and partial response (PR) (RR, 1.43; 95% CI, 1.10-1.86; P = 0.008). The ORR was higher for patients receiving taxane-based doublet, although not statistically significant (RR, 1.17; 95% CI, 0.91-1.50; P = 0.220). Whereas there was no difference in 1-year survival rate (1-year SR) (RR, 1.05; 95% CI, 0.94-1.17; P = 0.422), clinical benefit (CB) (RR, 1.02; 95% CI, 0.95-1.09; P = 0.642), and complete response (CR) (RR, 0.75; 95% CI, 0.31-1.79; P = 0.512). Toxicities did not differ significantly except stomatitis and diarrhea.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Taxane-based doublet appeared to improve PFS and PR compared with single-agent taxane in the treatment of patients with advanced breast cancer. Further prospective, randomized, controlled trials will be necessary.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Pharmacy, Shanghai Tenth People's Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, 200072 Shanghai, China. jiangruihua119@yahoo.cn
authors.forename: Hong-Bin
authors.initials: HB
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.forename: Qing
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.forename: Ling
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Li
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D043823:Taxoids / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D043823:Taxoids