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NCT00003088 · CITED IN SOURCE DOCUMENTS

Combination Chemotherapy in Treating Patients With Breast Cancer

An NCI or FDA source cites this study. A citation does not establish that it applies to an individual diagnosis.

Phase
PHASE3
Status at capture
COMPLETED
Registry last update
2020-04-29

RATIONALE: Drugs used in chemotherapy use different ways to stop tumor cells from dividing so they stop growing or die. Giving drugs at different times or combining more than one drug may kill more tumor cells. It is not yet known which chemotherapy regimen is more effective for breast cancer. PURPOSE: Randomized phase III trial to compare the effectiveness of chemotherapy consisting of either doxorubicin, cyclophosphamide, or paclitaxel given at different times with that of combination chemotherapy consisting of doxorubicin plus cyclophosphamide followed by paclitaxel in treating women with stage II or stage IIIA breast cancer.

Open the original ClinicalTrials.gov record → · Download preserved record

What did the study report?

Outcomes, safety and baseline populations are separate source sections. Quality-of-life measures appear under their original outcome titles.

No posted result sections were captured. Registered plans do not establish that a treatment works.

Who could take part
eligibility Criteria
1. Required Tumor Parameters 1.1 Patients with operable, histologically confirmed adenocarcinoma of the female breast and positive lymph nodes. Node positivity may be determined by either an axillary node dissection or a positive sentinel node finding by immunohistochemistry or histology. This includes any patient with one or more positive lymph nodes whose tumors are T0, T1, 2 or 3 and N1, N2, MO. Patients with metaplastic carcinoma are eligible. Bilateral disease does not exclude patients from entry. 1.2 Tumors that are locally advanced at diagnosis are not eligible. This is left to investigator judgment. Patients with tumors fixed to the chest wall, peau d'orange skin changes, skin ulcerations, or clinical inflammatory changes (T4 disease) are excluded from this study. Dermal lymphatic involvement noted on pathology without clinical inflammatory changes will not exclude a patient from this study. 1.3 Patients with any ERP/PgR status are eligible. 2. Prior treatment: 2.1 \<84 days from mastectomy or within 84 days of axillary dissection if the patient's most extensive breast surgery was a breast sparing procedure. 2.2 Surgical resection margins - All tumor should be removed by either a modified radical mastectomy or a segmental mastectomy. Node dissection: patients may have had either an axillary node dissection or sentinel lymph node biopsy before beginning treatment on protocol. * Mastectomy: There should be no evidence of gross or microscopic tumor at the surgical resection margins noted in the final surgery or pathology reports for patients who have had a modified radical mastectomy. Patients with close margins (tumor \< 1 mm from margin) are eligible. * Segmental mastectomy (lumpectomy): Although clear margins are preferable, DCIS or LCIS at the surgical resection margin will not render a patient who has undergone a segmental mastectomy ineligible for this study. Invasive tumor at the final resection margin will render a patient ineligible. 2.3 No prior chemotherapy. 2.4 No prior radiation therapy for this malignancy. Patients who received radiation to the breast for DCIS are eligible. Patients who have had segmental mastectomy will be treated with radiotherapy according to standard procedures in the treating physician's institution after completion of all chemotherapy. Patients who have had modified radical mastectomy may also receive radiotherapy at the discretion of the treating physician according to institutional guidelines. 2.5 Patients may receive up to four weeks of tamoxifen therapy for this malignancy and still be eligible for study entry. Patients who received tamoxifen for purposes of chemoprevention (e.g., Breast Cancer Prevention Trial) or for other indications (including previous breast cancer) are eligible. Tamoxifen therapy should be discontinued before the patient is enrolled on this study. 3. Age \> 18. There is no upper age limit for enrollment on this study. 4. Required initial laboratory data: * Granulocyte count \> 1000/mm3 * Platelet count \> 100,000/mm3 * Bilirubin within upper limits of normal
healthy Volunteers
false
minimum Age
18 Years
sex
FEMALE
std Ages
  1. ADULT
  2. OLDER_ADULT
Treatment arms and interventions
arm Groups
  1. description
    Patients received doxorubicin 60 mg/m\^2 every 3 weeks for four cycles followed by paclitaxel 175 mg/m\^2 every 3 weeks for four cycles followed by cyclophosphamide 600 mg/m\^2 every 3 weeks for four cycles.
    intervention Names
    1. Drug: cyclophosphamide
    2. Drug: doxorubicin hydrochloride
    3. Drug: paclitaxel
    label
    Sequential chemotherapy 21 days
    type
    EXPERIMENTAL
  2. description
    Patients received doxorubicin 60 mg/m\^2 plus cyclophosphamide 600 mg/m\^2 every 2 weeks for four cycles followed by paclitaxel 175 mg/m\^2 every 2 weeks for four cycles with filgrastim days 3 to 10 of each cycle at 5 µg/kg rounded to either 300 or 480 µg total dose.
    intervention Names
    1. Drug: cyclophosphamide
    2. Drug: doxorubicin hydrochloride
    3. Drug: paclitaxel
    label
    Concurrent chemotherapy 14 days
    type
    EXPERIMENTAL
  3. description
    Patients received doxorubicin 60 mg/m2 every 2 weeks for four cycles followed by paclitaxel 175 mg/m2 every 2 weeks for four cycles followed by cyclophosphamide 600 mg/m2 every 2 weeks for four cycles, with filgrastim days 3 to 10 of each cycle (a total of seven doses) at 5 µg/kg, which could be rounded to either 300 or 480 µg total dose.
    intervention Names
    1. Drug: cyclophosphamide
    2. Drug: doxorubicin hydrochloride
    3. Drug: paclitaxel
    label
    Sequential chemotherapy 14 days
    type
    EXPERIMENTAL
  4. description
    Patients received doxorubicin 60 mg/m\^2 plus cyclophosphamide 600 mg/m\^2 every 3 weeks for four cycles followed by paclitaxel 175 mg/m\^2 every 3 weeks for four cycles.
    intervention Names
    1. Drug: cyclophosphamide
    2. Drug: doxorubicin hydrochloride
    3. Drug: paclitaxel
    label
    Concurrent chemotherapy 21 days
    type
    EXPERIMENTAL
interventions
  1. arm Group Labels
    1. Concurrent chemotherapy 14 days
    2. Concurrent chemotherapy 21 days
    3. Sequential chemotherapy 14 days
    4. Sequential chemotherapy 21 days
    description
    given IV
    name
    cyclophosphamide
    type
    DRUG
  2. arm Group Labels
    1. Concurrent chemotherapy 14 days
    2. Concurrent chemotherapy 21 days
    3. Sequential chemotherapy 14 days
    4. Sequential chemotherapy 21 days
    description
    given IV
    name
    doxorubicin hydrochloride
    type
    DRUG
  3. arm Group Labels
    1. Concurrent chemotherapy 14 days
    2. Concurrent chemotherapy 21 days
    3. Sequential chemotherapy 14 days
    4. Sequential chemotherapy 21 days
    description
    given IV
    name
    paclitaxel
    type
    DRUG
Study design
allocation
RANDOMIZED
intervention Model
PARALLEL
masking Info
masking
NONE
primary Purpose
TREATMENT
Enrollment
count
2005
type
ACTUAL
Registered outcome plans (not posted results)
primary Outcomes
  1. measure
    Disease free survival
    time Frame
    4 years
Full study description
brief Summary
RATIONALE: Drugs used in chemotherapy use different ways to stop tumor cells from dividing so they stop growing or die. Giving drugs at different times or combining more than one drug may kill more tumor cells. It is not yet known which chemotherapy regimen is more effective for breast cancer. PURPOSE: Randomized phase III trial to compare the effectiveness of chemotherapy consisting of either doxorubicin, cyclophosphamide, or paclitaxel given at different times with that of combination chemotherapy consisting of doxorubicin plus cyclophosphamide followed by paclitaxel in treating women with stage II or stage IIIA breast cancer.
detailed Description
OBJECTIVES: I. Compare the sequential chemotherapy with doxorubicin, paclitaxel and cyclophosphamide to combined doxorubicin and cyclophosphamide followed by paclitaxel for disease free and overall survival in women with node positive stage II or IIIA breast cancer. II. Determine whether increasing the dose density of adjuvant chemotherapy will improve disease free and overall survival. III. Compare the toxicity in patients treated with these regimens. OUTLINE: This is a randomized study. Patients are randomized into one of four arms (sequential chemotherapy every 2 weeks vs every 3 weeks vs concurrent chemotherapy followed by paclitaxel every 2 weeks vs every 3 weeks). All tumor should be removed by either a modified radical mastectomy or a segmental mastectomy plus axillary node dissection. Adjuvant chemotherapy is started within 84 days following the last surgical procedure. Arm I: Patients receive sequential chemotherapy every 3 weeks. Doxorubicin IV is administered once every 3 weeks for 4 doses. Paclitaxel IV is then administered over 3 hours once every 3 weeks for 4 doses. Cyclophosphamide IV is administered once every 3 weeks for 4 doses following paclitaxel. Arm II: Patients receive sequential chemotherapy every 2 weeks. Doxorubicin IV is administered once every 2 weeks for 4 doses. Paclitaxel IV is then administered over 3 hours once every 2 weeks for 4 doses. Cyclophosphamide IV is administered once every 2 weeks for 4 doses following paclitaxel. Filgrastim (G-CSF) is administered by subcutaneous injection on days 3-10 after each dose of doxorubicin, paclitaxel, and cyclophosphamide. Arm III: Patients receive combination chemotherapy every 3 weeks. Combination doxorubicin IV and cyclophosphamide IV is administered once every 3 weeks for 4 doses. Paclitaxel IV is administered over 3 hours once every 3 weeks for 4 doses following combination chemotherapy. Arm IV: Patients receive combination chemotherapy every 2 weeks. Combination doxorubicin IV and cyclophosphamide IV is administered once every 2 weeks for 4 doses. Paclitaxel IV is administered over 3 hours once every 2 weeks for 4 doses following combination chemotherapy. G-CSF is administered by subcutaneous injection on days 3-10 after each dose of doxorubicin/cyclophophamide and after each dose of paclitaxel. After completion of all chemotherapy, patients receive tamoxifen orally for 5 years. Patients undergo radiotherapy 4-6 weeks after the completion of chemotherapy. Patients are followed every 6 months for 5 years, then annually until death. PROJECTED ACCRUAL: A total of 2,000 patients will be accrued for this study within 22 months.
Source references
references
  1. citation
    Muss HB, Berry DA, Cirrincione C, Budman DR, Henderson IC, Citron ML, Norton L, Winer EP, Hudis CA; Cancer and Leukemia Group B Experience. Toxicity of older and younger patients treated with adjuvant chemotherapy for node-positive breast cancer: the Cancer and Leukemia Group B Experience. J Clin Oncol. 2007 Aug 20;25(24):3699-704. doi: 10.1200/JCO.2007.10.9710.
    pmid
    17704418
    type
    BACKGROUND
  2. citation
    Berry DA, Cirrincione C, Henderson IC, Citron ML, Budman DR, Goldstein LJ, Martino S, Perez EA, Muss HB, Norton L, Hudis C, Winer EP. Estrogen-receptor status and outcomes of modern chemotherapy for patients with node-positive breast cancer. JAMA. 2006 Apr 12;295(14):1658-67. doi: 10.1001/jama.295.14.1658.
    pmid
    16609087
    type
    BACKGROUND
  3. citation
    Muss H, Berry D, Cirrincione C, et al.: Toxicity of older and younger patients (pts) treated (Rx) with intensive adjuvant chemotherapy (Cx) for node-positive (N+) breast cancer (BC): the CALGB experience. [Abstract] J Clin Oncol 24 (Suppl 18): A-559, 2006.
    type
    BACKGROUND
  4. citation
    Campone M, Fumoleau P, Bourbouloux E, Kerbrat P, Roche H. Taxanes in adjuvant breast cancer setting: which standard in Europe? Crit Rev Oncol Hematol. 2005 Sep;55(3):167-75. doi: 10.1016/j.critrevonc.2005.04.003.
    pmid
    16039867
    type
    BACKGROUND
  5. citation
    Orzano JA, Swain SM. Concepts and clinical trials of dose-dense chemotherapy for breast cancer. Clin Breast Cancer. 2005 Dec;6(5):402-11. doi: 10.3816/CBC.2005.n.044.
    pmid
    16381623
    type
    BACKGROUND
  6. citation
    Berry DA, Cirrincione C, Henderson IC, et al.: Effects of improvements in chemotherapy on disease-free and overall survival of estrogen-receptor negative, node-positive breast cancer: 20-year experience of the CALGB U.S. Breast Intergroup. [Abstract] Breast Cancer Res Treat 88 (Suppl 1): A-29, 2004.
    type
    BACKGROUND
  7. citation
    Citron ML, Berry DA, Cirrincione C, et al.: Dose-dense (DD) AC followed by paclitaxel is associated with moderate, frequent anemia compared to sequential (S) and/or less DD treatment: update by CALGB on Breast Cancer Intergroup Trial C9741 with ECOG, SWOG, & NCCTG. [Abstract] J Clin Oncol 23 (Suppl 16): A-620, 33s, 2005.
    type
    RESULT
  8. citation
    Fornier M, Norton L. Dose-dense adjuvant chemotherapy for primary breast cancer. Breast Cancer Res. 2005;7(2):64-9. doi: 10.1186/bcr1007. Epub 2005 Feb 10.
    pmid
    15743513
    type
    RESULT
  9. citation
    Hudis C, Citron M, Berry D, et al.: Five year follow-up of INT C9741: dose-dense (DD) chemotherapy (CRx) is safe and effective. [Abstract] Breast Cancer Research and Treatment 94 (Suppl 1): A-41, 2005.
    type
    RESULT
  10. citation
    Schwartz J, Domchek SM, Hwang WT, Fox K. Evaluation of anemia, neutropenia and skin toxicities in standard or dose-dense doxorubicin/cyclophosphamide (AC)-paclitaxel or docetaxel adjuvant chemotherapy in breast cancer. Ann Oncol. 2005 Feb;16(2):247-52. doi: 10.1093/annonc/mdi058.
    pmid
    15668278
    type
    RESULT
  11. citation
    Citron ML, Berry DA, Cirrincione C, Hudis C, Winer EP, Gradishar WJ, Davidson NE, Martino S, Livingston R, Ingle JN, Perez EA, Carpenter J, Hurd D, Holland JF, Smith BL, Sartor CI, Leung EH, Abrams J, Schilsky RL, Muss HB, Norton L. Randomized trial of dose-dense versus conventionally scheduled and sequential versus concurrent combination chemotherapy as postoperative adjuvant treatment of node-positive primary breast cancer: first report of Intergroup Trial C9741/Cancer and Leukemia Group B Trial 9741. J Clin Oncol. 2003 Apr 15;21(8):1431-9. doi: 10.1200/JCO.2003.09.081. Epub 2003 Feb 13.
    pmid
    12668651
    type
    RESULT
  12. citation
    Citron M, Berry D, Cirrincione C, et al.: Superiority of dose-dense (DD) over conventional scheduling (CS) and equivalence of sequential (SC) vs. combination adjuvant chemotherapy (CC) for node-positive breast cancer (CALGB 9741, INT C9741). [Abstract] Breast Cancer Res Treat 76 (Suppl 1): A-15, 2002.
    type
    RESULT
see Also Links
  1. label
    Data Available: Select individual patient-level data from this trial can be requested from the NCTN/NCORP Data Archive
Source notices and limitations
    Discovery and provenance
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        py in women with HER2-negative breast cancer):</p> <div class="pdq-content-list"><ol id="_3353"><li>A U.S. intergroup trial (<a href="/clinicaltrials/NCT00003088">CALGB-9741</a> [NCT00003088]) of 2,005 node-positive patients compared, in a 2 &#215; 2 factorial design, the use of concurrent AC followed by paclitaxel with
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        e breast cancer):</p> <div class="pdq-content-list"><ol id="_3353"><li>A U.S. intergroup trial (<a href="/clinicaltrials/NCT00003088">CALGB-9741</a> [NCT00003088]) of 2,005 node-positive patients compared, in a 2 &#215; 2 factorial design, the use of concurrent AC followed by paclitaxel with sequential doxorubicin, pacl
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      source update dates
      1. context
        Updated: April 25, 2025
        datetime
        2025-04-25T12:00:00Z
        display
        April 25, 2025

    Preserved source evidence · Not medical advice