The role of growth factor support following neutropenic events in early stage breast cancer (BC) patients treated with adjuvant docetaxel, doxorubicin, and cyclophosphamide (TAC): A sub-analysis of BCIRG 001

677 Background: TAC significantly improves disease-free and overall survival over FAC (HR 0.70, 0.68, respectively) and is emerging as one of the most active adjuvant treatments in patients (pts) with node positive early stage (BC) (Martin, SABCS 2003 #43). TAC is generally well tolerated but is associated with a higher incidence of febrile neutropenia (FN) vs FAC. ASCO clinical practice guidelines recommend secondary prophylaxis with G-CSF after FN in a prior cycle to maintain dose intensity. Methods: Pts with node-positive BC were randomized to TAC (75/50/500 mg/m2 q3wk x 6) or FAC (500/50/500 mg/m2 q3wk x 6). Corticosteroid premedication and prophylactic ciprofloxacin were given with TAC, but not with FAC. In case of FN (≥ gr 2 fever with gr 4 neutropenia), pts were treated with G-CSF for all subsequent cycles. This retrospective sub-group analysis compares the incidence of FN for cycles treated without and with G-CSF. Results: 1491 patients were accrued with 1480 evaluable for safety (TAC 744, FAC 736...