Combination of taxanes and anthracyclines in first-line chemotherapy of metastatic breast cancer: an interim report

Abstract Anthracyclines and taxanes are among the most effective agents in the treatment of advanced breast cancer, refractory or non-responsive to endocrine manipulation. Several recently published phase III studies have addressed the role of these compounds in combination compared with established chemotherapy regimens. This report considering a total of 4244 patients evaluates the data of those trials with respect to the efficacy and toxicity of the treatment regimens. Currently, evidence is growing that especially patients with symptomatic visceral tumour spread may benefit from the combined application of anthracyclines and taxanes. Adequately dosed polychemotherapy appears to be more successful than monotherapy, and, at present, the combination of anthracyclines (doxorubicin, epirubicin) and taxanes (docetaxel (Doc), paclitaxel (Pac)) might lead to a promising approach to improve the course of the metastatic disease.