Docetaxel defeats doxorubicin in adjuvant therapy arena

Adjuvant therapy with docetaxel [Taxotere] plus cyclophosphamide is superior to standard therapy with doxorubicin [Adriamycin] plus cyclophosphamide in the treatment of early breast cancer, according to results of a phase III trial presented at the 28th Annual San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium (SABCS) [San Antonio, Texas, US; December, 2005]. The trial was conducted in more than 1000 women with stage I, II, or operable stage III breast cancer. Adjuvant therapy with four cycles of docetaxel plus cyclophosphamide was associated with a significantly higher disease-free survival rate at 5 years, compared with doxorubicin plus cyclophosphamide.