Sequential versus concurrent anthracyclines and taxanes as adjuvant chemotherapy of early breast cancer: A meta-analysis of phase III randomized control trials

PurposeWe 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.MethodsAll 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.ResultsAmong 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).ConclusionConsidering 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.