title: Sequential versus concurrent anthracyclines and taxanes as adjuvant chemotherapy of early breast cancer: a meta-analysis of phase III randomized control trials.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We performed a meta-analysis of Phase III randomized trials to compare treatment outcomes for early-stage breast cancer patients receiving adjuvant chemotherapy with sequential or concurrent anthracyclines and taxanes.
  
  
  METHODS
  All Phase III randomized trials comparing adjuvant chemotherapy of sequential or concurrent anthracyclines and taxanes in early-stage breast cancer patients were considered eligible. A total of three trials that enrolled 8728 women were analyzed. A pooled analysis was accomplished and event-based risk ratios (RR) with 95% confidence intervals (95%CI) were derived. The significant differences in disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS) were explored. A heterogeneity test was applied as well.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Among three eligible trials, significant differences in favor of sequential regimen were seen in DFS (RR: 0.90; 95%CI: 0.84 to 0.98; P=0.01) and in OS (RR: 0.88; 95%CI: 0.79 to 0.98; P=0.02).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Considering all the available Phase III trials, sequential adjuvant chemotherapy for early breast cancer seems to add a significant benefit in both DFS and OS over concurrent regimens.
authors.affiliation: Breast Disease Center, Department of Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, 58, Zhongshan No.2 Road, Guangzhou, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Nan
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Shao
authors.forename: Shenming
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Chen
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Yao
authors.forename: Xiangdong
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.forename: Yunjian
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Yuanyuan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Ying
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Lin
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D018943:Anthracyclines / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology; D017024:Chemotherapy, Adjuvant / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D055502:Secondary Prevention / Q000379:methods*; D043823:Taxoids / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D018943:Anthracyclines; D043823:Taxoids