Dr. Blum on Takeaways from ABC Trials for Breast Cancer

Joanne Blum, MD, PhD, FACP, physician, Texas Oncology, discusses the key takeaways from the phase III ABC (anthracyclines in early breast cancer) trials, which compared docetaxel plus cyclophosphamide versus anthracycline/taxane-based chemotherapy regimens in patients with high-risk, HER2-negative breast cancer.

In an analysis of the trials, results showed that statistical non-inferiority of the non-anthracycline regimen could not be demonstrated and that a longer follow-up should clarify the clinical utility of the initial findings.

In clinical practice, Blum says she uses anthracycline-containing regimen for patients with hormone-receptor (HR)—negative disease, but will also reserve such a regimen for patients with 4 or more positive nodes that are HR-positive. Additionally, she will also use it in select patients with 1 to 3 positive nodes.

For patients who are high-grade and have lymphovascular invasion, Blum may use an anthracycline regimen, as well.