Adjuvant taxanes in the treatment of breast cancer: no longer at the tip of the iceberg

Clin Breast Cancer. 2006 Apr;7(1):51-8. doi: 10.3816/CBC.2006.n.013.

Abstract

Breast cancer is one of the leading causes of cancer-related mortality, and a cure is desperately needed. Adjuvant chemotherapy with anthracycline-based regimens has been proven to decrease the risk of relapse and cancer-related mortality in women with early-stage breast cancer. The taxanes (paclitaxel and docetaxel) have been incorporated into several adjuvant chemotherapy regimens in recent studies. Some of these trials are now mature and have demonstrated a definitive benefit with the use of taxanes. Thus, taxanes should be incorporated into the adjuvant treatment of breast cancer. To date, the available data do not allow one to select a single best taxane, schedule, or overall regimen.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / therapeutic use*
  • Breast Neoplasms / drug therapy*
  • Breast Neoplasms / mortality*
  • Breast Neoplasms / pathology
  • Breast Neoplasms / surgery
  • Chemotherapy, Adjuvant
  • Docetaxel
  • Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
  • Drug Administration Schedule
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Mastectomy, Segmental / methods
  • Middle Aged
  • Neoplasm Staging
  • Paclitaxel / therapeutic use
  • Prognosis
  • Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic
  • Risk Assessment
  • Survival Analysis
  • Taxoids / therapeutic use
  • Treatment Outcome

Substances

  • Taxoids
  • Docetaxel
  • Paclitaxel