Weekly paclitaxel in the adjuvant treatment of breast cancer

N Engl J Med. 2008 Apr 17;358(16):1663-71. doi: 10.1056/NEJMoa0707056.

Abstract

Background: We compared the efficacy of two different taxanes, docetaxel and paclitaxel, given either weekly or every 3 weeks, in the adjuvant treatment of breast cancer.

Methods: We enrolled 4950 women with axillary lymph node-positive or high-risk, lymph node-negative breast cancer. After randomization, all patients first received 4 cycles of intravenous doxorubicin and cyclophosphamide at 3-week intervals and were then assigned to intravenous paclitaxel or docetaxel given at 3-week intervals for 4 cycles or at 1-week intervals for 12 cycles. The primary end point was disease-free survival.

Results: As compared with patients receiving standard therapy (paclitaxel every 3 weeks), the odds ratio for disease-free survival was 1.27 among those receiving weekly paclitaxel (P=0.006), 1.23 among those receiving docetaxel every 3 weeks (P=0.02), and 1.09 among those receiving weekly docetaxel (P=0.29) (with an odds ratio >1 favoring the groups receiving experimental therapy). As compared with standard therapy, weekly paclitaxel was also associated with improved survival (odds ratio, 1.32; P=0.01). An exploratory analysis of a subgroup of patients whose tumors expressed no human epidermal growth factor receptor type 2 protein found similar improvements in disease-free and overall survival with weekly paclitaxel treatment, regardless of hormone-receptor expression. Grade 2, 3, or 4 neuropathy was more frequent with weekly paclitaxel than with paclitaxel every 3 weeks (27% vs. 20%).

Conclusions: Weekly paclitaxel after standard adjuvant chemotherapy with doxorubicin and cyclophosphamide improves disease-free and overall survival in women with breast cancer. (ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT00004125 [ClinicalTrials.gov].).

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Multicenter Study
  • Randomized Controlled Trial
  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic / administration & dosage*
  • Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / therapeutic use
  • Breast Neoplasms / drug therapy*
  • Breast Neoplasms / mortality
  • Breast Neoplasms / radiotherapy
  • Breast Neoplasms / surgery
  • Chemotherapy, Adjuvant
  • Disease-Free Survival
  • Docetaxel
  • Drug Administration Schedule
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Infusions, Intravenous
  • Kaplan-Meier Estimate
  • Middle Aged
  • Paclitaxel / administration & dosage*
  • Receptors, Steroid
  • Taxoids / administration & dosage*

Substances

  • Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic
  • Receptors, Steroid
  • Taxoids
  • Docetaxel
  • Paclitaxel

Associated data

  • ClinicalTrials.gov/NCT00004125

Grants and funding