Taxanes in the adjuvant treatment of node-negative breast cancer patients

Purpose: Although the use of regimens with adjuvant taxanes is a standard approach in node-positive breast cancer, the use of taxanes in node-negative breast cancer is still controversial. In this search, we aimed to evaluate the data about the use of taxanes in high-risk node-negative patients. Methods: Studies were retrieved by searching the Pubmed database. Randomized phase III studies on the use of regimens with adjuvant taxanes in early-stage breast cancer were screened and, among them, the studies that included node-negative patients were included in the evaluation. Results: Data on the adjuvant use of taxanes in node-negative patients were classified into 3 categories: a) studies that evaluated both node-positive and node-negative patients; b) meta-analyses on the use of adjuvant taxanes; and c) studies that included node-negative patients alone. The results of the studies that evaluated both node-positive and node-negative patients and the meta-analyses were evaluated according to the node-negative subgroup analyses. While two of these studies did not show difference in disease-free survival (DFS) for the node-negative subgroup, one study showed a difference in DFS. The only data for the adjuvant use of taxanes in only node-negative breast cancers belong to GEICAM 9805 study and, according to its results, docetaxel provided a difference in DFS in high-risk node-negative patients. Conclusion: Data about the adjuvant use of taxanes in node-negative patients are limited compared to the studies in which both node-positive and node-negative subgroups are evaluated. In the light of these studies, it is impossible to make a comment about the use of taxanes in node-negative patients. However, GEICAM 9805 study has shown positive results on DFS in high-risk node-negative breast cancer patients with adjuvant taxanes.