Comparative study of adjuvant chemotherapeutic efficacy of docetaxel plus cyclophosphamide and doxorubicin plus cyclophosphamide in female breast cancer.

PURPOSE: This retrospective study presents a comparative analysis of the overall survival and toxicities, as side effects, of docetaxel plus cyclophosphamide (TC) and doxorubicin plus cyclophosphamide (AC). The study measured their efficacies during adjuvant chemotherapy, treating Pakistani breast cancer patients by validating the results obtained, with the published analysis of the same treatment given to US patients. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Between June 2015 and September 2017, for four chemotherapy cycles, 189 patients out of 358 received TC (75 mg/m2 of docetaxel, 600 mg/m2 of cyclophosphamide) and 169 were treated with AC (60 mg/m2 of doxorubicin, 600 mg/m2 of cyclophosphamide). On the basis of using pathological markers to assess patients, toxicities, as side effects, (due to docetaxel, doxorubicin, and cyclophosphamide) were listed in the database of this study. Common factors with respect to common terminology criteria for adverse events version 5.0 and side effects listed in MedlinePlus, NIH US database, and from the database of this study were then separated to be included in comparison for this study. Statistically, chi-squared test was used at α=0.05.
RESULTS: There was no statistically significant difference between the proportions of patients with vomiting, extreme tiredness, diarrhea, mild anemia, stability, and overall survival because P-value >0.05. However, AC remained less toxic (P-value <0.05) by 22.6%, 25.7%, 25.3%, 12.4%, 20.8%, and 16.4% compared to TC for changes in taste, muscle pain, burning hands, change in hemoglobin level, moderate anemia, and needing blood transfusion respectively, whereas TC remained less toxic by 52.9%, 32.5%, and 26.3% for dizziness, weight loss, and sores in throat and mouth, respectively.
CONCLUSION: At 27 months, TC was more toxic than AC, whereas both combinations had the same overall survival rate.

Introduction

It is claimed that breast cancer is the most common1 and devastating disease. American Cancer Society estimated that there were 2,088,849 women suffering from breast cancer which were reported (in 2018) worldwide2 and 626,679 women died of this cancer.3 One study4 reported that among the cancer patients registered in the city of Lahore, Pakistan, from 2010 to 2012, 79% were females who were suffering from breast cancer.

Different anticancer drugs are used to treat different types of tumors5 with drug categories6 affecting abnormal cells in many ways.7 A chemotherapy schedule entails a treatment regime of anticancer drugs that are given for a set time duration at repeated intervals, called chemotherapy cycles.7–13 Chemotherapy may be given on different schedules depending upon two major aspects. The first aspect consists of patient factors including age, weight, and medical history. The second aspect consists of breast cancer factors including subtype, grade, stage, behavior (non-invasive or invasive), and disease history. In a drug schedule, a patient may receive the drug at repeated intervals, for example, once a week, once every 2, 3 or 4 weeks.8,9,11,12,14 During the treatment phase, the patient may be given a single anticancer drug or a combination of different chemotherapy drugs simultaneously.7–12 For adjuvant treatment, researchers have shown that certain chemotherapy drug combinations are sometimes more effective than single drug treatment.11,15,16 To treat a breast tumor, chemotherapy drugs or their combinations may be given as adjuvant therapies such as doxorubicin plus cyclophosphamide (AC) and docetaxel plus cyclophosphamide (TC).7

Given the importance of knowing an anti-tumor drug’s efficacy regarding side effects or infections,17 many studies have been completed and are being followed to compare different chemotherapies for cancer patients in the search for suitable drugs.16 Some drugs had high efficacy for some patients and others had comparatively high toxicity. There is a need to identify which drug had lower toxicity coupled with better tumor treatment in Pakistan as compared to other countries. To that end, the drug regime used for female breast cancer patients from a Pakistani Government Hospital in the period from June 2015 to September 2017 was studied. It was established that the following drug treatments were used: TC, AC, and epirubicin with the same combination. TC and AC combinations were then compared.

Patients and methods

Study design and patients

In this retrospective study, female breast cancer patients from Allied Hospital in Pakistan, treated with adjuvant chemotherapy, were selected for the comparison of TC and AC during four cycles of both combinations. This study was approved by the ethical review committee of Faisalabad Medical University, Pakistan, approval number 675/2016, all patients provided written informed consent, and the study was conducted in accordance with the Declaration of Helsinki. The data of 782 cases of the patients suffering from breast tumors and who received or were receiving chemotherapy treatment were collected from their hematology reports from Allied Hospital Faisalabad. After applying the inclusion and exclusion criteria discussed in the following section, there were 489 cases to be studied. With initial screening, out of 489 patients, 6 male patients were removed from the samples. Out of 483 patients, 125 patients who were receiving treatment using drugs such as epirubicin, paclitaxel, and tamoxifen, were also separated from samples and excluded from the study. Thus, out of the remaining 358, there were 189 cases who were receiving or had been receiving adjuvant chemotherapy treatment of TC for four cycles and 169 female breast cancer patients were treated or being treated with AC (Figure 1).

Figure 1

Flowchart of data collection, organization, filtration, and separation.

Gender: female

Age: ≥28 and ≤62 years

Histology: invasive ductal carcinoma

ECOG: 0–1

Grade: all grades

Stage: I–III

Diabetes: non-diabetic

Renal function tests (RFT): normal

Ejection fraction (EF) in echocardiography: 55%–70%

Gender: male

Age: ≤28 and ≥62 years

Histology: other than invasive ductal carcinoma

ECOG: 2 and above

Grade: all grades

Stage: IV (metastasis)

Diabetes: diabetic

RFT: abnormal

EF in echocardiography: <50%

Exclusion criteria

Data from patients’ admission charts and hematology followup reports were saved in the database of this study. With data organization of both cohorts done on the basis of common characteristics of TC and AC, different groups of ages, weights, and geographical areas were included. Figure 2 compares these groups of ages, areas, and weights of both TC and AC cohorts. A list of side effects was captured in a database which included the data of TC and AC combinations of the patients in the study. A separate list was made for the side effects of docetaxel, doxorubicin, and cyclophosphamide, given in MedlinePlus (a database of US National Library of Medicine). Figure 1 shows the common side effects taken from MedlinePlus and from the database of this study. The common characteristics of both cohorts were then divided into two common aspects including basic common factors and common side effects in order to compare the results of TC and AC on patients of these cohorts. Tables 1 and 2 show these basic factors and the common side effects with their respective attributes.

Figure 2

Number of female breast cancer patients receiving adjuvant chemotherapy based on age, area, and weight.

Abbreviations: AC, doxorubicin plus cyclophosphamide; TC, docetaxel plus cyclophosphamide.

Table 1

Basic factors with attributes used for comparison of TC and AC

Factor	Attributes
Age (years)	<30
	30–40
	41–50
	51–60
	61–70
	>70
Area	Rural
	Urban
	Peri-urban
Weight (kg)	<40
	40–49
	50–59
	60–69
	70–79
	80–90
	>90
	Stable
	Loss
	Gain
Survival	Yes
	No
Diet	Good
	Moderate
	Poor
Stability	Stable
	Weak
Hemoglobin (g/dL)	>12
	11.5–11.9
	11–11.4
	10.5–10.9
	10–10.4
	9.5–9.9
	<9.5
Blood transfusion	Yes

Abbreviations: AC, doxorubicin plus cyclophosphamide; TC, docetaxel plus cyclophosphamide.

Table 2

Side effects with attributes used for comparison of TC and AC

Side effect	Attributes
Vomiting	Yes
	No
Extreme tiredness or unusual weakness	Yes
	No
Changes in taste	Yes
	No
Muscle pain	Yes
	No
Diarrhea	Yes
	No
Sores in throat and mouth	Yes
	No
Burning in hands and feet	Yes
	No
Hair loss	Yes
	No
Change of nail color	Yes
	No
Dizziness	Yes
	No
Mild anemia	Yes
	No
Moderate anemia	Yes
	No

Abbreviations: AC, doxorubicin plus cyclophosphamide; TC, docetaxel plus cyclophosphamide.

Treatment

A dosage, per cycle, of 75 mg of docetaxel (intravenous) per m2 of patient body surface area, in combination with 600 mg/m2 cyclophosphamide was given in each of four cycles, one cycle consisting of 21 days. Similarly, varying from patient to patient, a dosage, per cycle, of 60 mg of doxorubicin (intravenous) per m2 of patient body surface area, in combination with 600 mg/m2 cyclophosphamide was given in each of four cycles. The patients with the same number of cycles were examined for the comparison of both TC and AC, observing their diet (good, moderate or poor) and their condition (stable or unstable).

Aspects of TC and AC toxicity observed in this study (selected from US National Cancer Institute common terminology criteria for adverse events [NCI CTCAE])

With respect to US NCI CTCAE version 5.0,18 and MedlinePlus, US National Library of Medicine,19,20 the aspects for both the cohort of patients treated with TC (cpTC) and the cohort of patients treated with AC (cpAC) including hair loss, change of nail color, vomiting, extreme tiredness, changes in taste, muscle pain, diarrhea, sores in throat and mouth, burning in hands and feet, dizziness, moderate anemia, weight loss, stability, and mild anemia (Table 3), were studied. Other common factors that had changed in cpTC and cpAC were also observed including hemoglobin level, blood transfusion, and survival.

Table 3

Comparative analysis of TC and AC cohorts based on routine physiological parameters and common side effects

Parameter				TC (N=189)		AC (N=169)		Chi-squared test for homogeneity of proportions at significance level: α=0.05
	Name		Attribute	Number	%	Number	%	χ2	df	Critical value	P-value
Common factors	Stability		Stable	66	34.9	57	33.7	0.056	1	3.841	0.812
			Weak	123	65.1	112	66.3
	Weight	Loss	Yes	64	33.8	112	66.3	38.878	1	3.841	0.000
			No	123	66.1	54	32
		Gain		2	1.1	3	1.7	–	–	–	–
	Hemoglobin (g/dL)		>12	29	15.3	91	53.8	83.931	6	12.592	0.000
			11.5–11.9	19	10.1	25	14.8
			11–11.4	38	20.1	27	16.0
			10.5–10.9	26	13.8	13	7.7
			10–10.4	28	14.8	6	3.6
			9.5–9.9	27	14.3	4	2.4
			<9.5	22	11.6	3	1.8
	Blood transfusion		Yes	59	31.2	25	14.8	13.402	1	3.841	0.000
			No	130	68.8	144	85.2
	Survival		Yes	176	93.1	153	90.5	0.803	1	3.841	0.37
			No	13	6.9	16	9.5
Side effects	Vomiting		Yes	177	93.3	149	88.2	3.298	1	3.841	0.069
			No	12	6.3	20	11.8
	Extreme tiredness		Yes	168	88.9	153	90.5	0.26	1	3.841	0.61
			No	21	11.1	16	9.5
	Changes in taste		Yes	55	29.1	11	6.5	30.283	1	3.841	0.000
			No	134	70.9	158	93.5
	Muscle pain		Yes	118	62.4	62	36.7	23.66	1	3.841	0.000
			No	71	37.6	107	63.3
	Diarrhea		Yes	19	10.1	22	13	0.773	1	3.841	0.379
			No	170	89.9	147	87
	Sores in throat and mouth		Yes	127	67.2	158	93.5	38.003	1	3.841	0.000
			No	62	32.8	11	6.5
	Burning in hands and feet		Yes	78	41.3	27	16	27.538	1	3.841	0.000
			No	111	58.7	142	84
	Hair loss		Yes	189	100	169	100	–	–	–	–
			No	0	0	0	0
	Dizziness		Yes	51	27	135	79.9	100.014	1	3.841	0.000
			No	138	73	34	20.1
	Change of nail color		Yes	189	100	169	100	–	–	–	–
			No	0	0	0	0
	Mild anemia		Yes	105	55.6	92	54.4	0.045	1	3.841	0.832
			No	84	44.4	77	45.6
	Moderate anemia		Yes	75	39.7	32	18.9	18.328	1	3.841	0.000
			No	114	60.3	137	81.1

Abbreviations: AC, doxorubicin plus cyclophosphamide; TC, docetaxel plus cyclophosphamide.

The measured markers for cardiotoxicity and nephrotoxicity

For cardiotoxicity21–24 in cpTC and cpAC, the values of echocardiographic25 measurements from one chemotherapy cycle to the following cycle (after every 21 days) were observed including peak gradient (mmHg), mean gradient (mmHg), mean gradient (diastolic), area of pressure half time (msec) (PHT) (cm2), left ventricular outflow tract, regurgitation, regurgitation PHT, regurgitant volume, E/A, and E wave deceleration time (msec) (DT) during four cycles of TC and similarly during the four cycles of AC.

For nephrotoxicity26 of both cpTC and cpAC, the changes in values of blood urea and serum creatinine (from their renal profile test reports), from one chemotherapy cycle to the following cycle (after every 21 days) were observed during four cycles of TC and similarly during the four cycles of AC.

Statistical analysis

Calculating the difference in overall trend in an individual patient’s hemoglobin change because of n-cycles of chemotherapy

Lacking healthy red blood cells causes anemia,27 diagnosed by a complete blood count test. From the hemoglobin level, doctors decide the grade of anemia. Using NCI anemia scale,28 the hemoglobin level of patients of both TC and AC cohorts were compared to evaluate anemia presence resulting from chemotherapy of both combinations.

Given that patients in both TC and AC cohorts had four cycles, their hemoglobin levels were calculated. The overall trend of changing hemoglobin level during both TC and AC adjuvant chemotherapy (Figure 3) was also calculated. Equation 1 calculates the overall trend in patients’ hemoglobin change, denoted by otHbc: where bHb is base hemoglobin value (with initial value) obtained before starting chemotherapy, cHb is current hemoglobin value obtained after the first cycle of chemotherapy, for example, before second, third, or fourth chemotherapy cycle, and n is from one to four cycles of chemotherapy.

Figure 3

Percent change in patients’ hemoglobin level caused by adjuvant chemotherapy TC and AC drug combinations.

Abbreviations: AC, doxorubicin plus cyclophosphamide; TC, docetaxel plus cyclophosphamide.

Calculating the difference in percentage value of a factor in both drug cohorts

The difference in percentage value of the number of patients for both cohorts of a factor denoted by D was calculated by Equation 2: where pV is percent value from one cohort and pV is percent value from the second cohort of the same factor. pV must be greater. In some factors, cpTC had greater value than cpAC and vice versa.

This study was designed to compare TC and AC as adjuvant chemotherapy treatment for female breast cancer patients on the basis of the presence or absence of 1–4 grade anemia (including mild, moderate, severe, and life-threatening), selected common factors, called routine physiological parameters (including stability, hemoglobin, blood transfusion, and survival), and toxicity for selected and common side effects (including vomiting, extreme tiredness, changes in taste, muscle pain, diarrhea, sores in throat and mouth, burning in hands and feet, hair loss, dizziness, and change of nail color). In this study, through Minitab 17, chi-squared test for homogeneity of proportions (CTHP) at significance level α=0.05 was used to compare these aspects. With the help of Equation 2 the difference was calculated by using percentage values. Using R programming language data, were organized and filtered along with computing values from Equations 1 and 2.

Ethical approval

All procedures performed in studies involving human participants were in accordance with the ethical standards of the institutional and/or national research committee. This study was approved by the ethical review committee of Faisalabad Medical University, approval number 675/2016, all patients provided written informed consent, and the study was conducted in accordance with the Declaration of Helsinki.

Results

Aspects of comparison

This study included four common factors (routine physiological parameters) of both cpTC and cpAC, listed in Table 3. The results of this study show common side effects, of both combinations, in which two (hair loss and change of nail color) were not listed in the comparison of cpTC and cpAC because these were common to all patients being studied. The results for the remaining eleven side effects are given in Table 3.

Cardiotoxicity

Evaluating echocardiography of the cpTC and cpAC, it was observed that all the echocardiographic25 measurements remained normal for all patients treated with both TC and AC (Table 4), whereas EF of most of the patients treated with AC remained a bit low.

Table 4

Echocardiographic measurements of patients treated with TC and AC

Measurement	Normal value	TC	AC
Peak gradient (mmHg)	26–36 mm	27–31	26–32
Mean gradient (mmHg)	19–39 mm	27–32	27–33
Mean gradient (diastolic)	08–12 mm	9–10	9–10
Area of PHT (cm2)	07–11 mm	8–9	8–9
LVOT	36–56 mm	42–49	42–51
Regurgitation	25–41 mm	28–32	27–33
EF	50%–65%	55–60	48–56
Regurgitant volume	29%–37%	31–35	30–36
E/A	1–1.5	1–1.18	1–1.2
DT	160–240 ms	198–220	192–228

Abbreviations: AC, doxorubicin plus cyclophosphamide; DT, E wave deceleration time (msec); E/A, the ratio of peak velocity blood flow from gravity in early diastole (the E wave) to peak velocity flow in late diastole caused by atrial contraction (the A wave); EF, ejection fraction; LVOT, left ventricular outflow tract; PHT, pressure half time (msec); TC, docetaxel plus cyclophosphamide.

Nephrotoxicity

Evaluating renal profiles of the cpTC and cpAC, it was observed that the value of blood urea of the cpTC was 21–36 mg/dL, and thus remained in its normal value (10–45 mg/dL). During four cycles, in cpTC, it was also noted that there was a minor difference in the value of blood urea of a patient from one cycle to the following cycle of TC. Similarly, the value of blood urea of the cpAC was 18–33 mg/dL, and thus remained in its normal value (10–45 mg/dL). During four cycles, in cpAC, it was also noted that there was a minor difference in the value of blood urea of a patient from one cycle to the following cycle of AC.

In renal profiles of the cpTC and cpAC, it was observed that the value of serum creatinine of the cpTC was 0.6–1 mg/dL, and thus remained in its normal value (0.6–1.2 mg/dL). During four cycles, in cpTC, it was also noted that there was a minor difference in the value of serum creatinine of a patient from one cycle to the following cycle of TC. Similarly, the value of serum creatinine of the cpAC was 0.6–1.1 mg/dL, and thus remained in its normal value (0.6–1.2 mg/dL). During four cycles, in cpAC, it was also noted that there was a minor difference in the value of serum creatinine of a patient from one cycle to the following cycle of AC.

The aforementioned results of two major renal profiles (which contributed to determining nephrotoxicity) showed that, for both cpTC and cpAC, they remained normal, therefore both TC and AC were not found to be nephrotoxic to patients in this study.

Vomiting

By applying CTHP, the proportions of vomiting patients who were treated with both TC (177 out of 189 patients, 93.3%) and AC (149 out of 169 patients, 88.2%) were obtained, and since P=0.069>0.05, there was no difference in the proportions of vomiting patients treated with either TC or AC.

Extreme tiredness

There were proportions of patients with extreme tiredness who were treated with both TC (88.9%) and AC (90.5%), and since P=0.61>0.05, there was no difference in the proportions of patients who experienced extreme tiredness because of treatment with either TC or AC.

Changes in taste

After applying CTHP on proportions of patients who had a change in taste, who were treated with both combinations, TC (29.1%) and AC (6.5%), since P=0<0.05, there was a significant difference in their proportions. Of patients who experienced changes in taste, 22.6% fewer were treated with AC than with TC.

Muscle pain

In proportions of patients who experienced muscle pain, who were treated with both TC (62.4%) and AC (36.7%), since P=0<0.05, there was a significant difference in their proportions. Of patients who suffered from muscle pain, 25.7% fewer were treated with AC than with TC.

Diarrhea

In proportions of patients who suffered from diarrhea, who were treated with both TC (10.1%) and AC (13%), since P=0.379>0.05, there was no difference in the proportions of patients who suffered from diarrhea because of treatment with either TC or AC.

Sores in throat and mouth

In proportions of patients who experienced sores in throat and mouth, who were treated with both TC (67.2%) and AC (93.5%), since P=0<0.05, there was a significant difference in their proportions. Of patients who experienced sores in throat and mouth, 26.3% fewer were treated with TC than with AC.

Burning in hands and feet

In proportions of patients who experienced burning in hands and feet, who were treated with both TC (41.3%) and AC (16%), since P=0<0.05, there was a significant difference in their proportions. Of patients who experienced burning in hands and feet, 25.3% fewer were treated with AC than with TC.

Dizziness

In proportions of patients experiencing dizziness, who were treated with both TC (27%) and AC (79.9%), since P=0<0.05, there was a significant difference in their proportions. Of patients who experienced dizziness, 52.9% fewer were treated with TC than with AC.

Moderate anemia

In proportions of moderate anemia in patients who were treated with both TC (39.7%) and AC (18.9%), since P=0<0.05, there was a significant difference in their proportions. Of patients who suffered from moderate anemia, 20.8% fewer were treated with AC than with TC.

Weight loss

In proportions of patients who lost weight who were treated with both TC (33.8%) and AC (66.3%), since P=0<0.05, there was a significant difference in their proportions. Of patients who lost weight, 32.5% fewer were treated with TC than with AC. A proportion of 1.1% and 1.7% patients gained weight, treated with TC and AC, respectively.

Stability

In proportions of stability in patients who were treated with both TC (34.9%) and AC (33.7%), since P=0.812>0.05, there was no difference in proportions of stability in patients treated with either TC or AC.

Mild anemia

In proportions of mild anemia in patients who were treated with both TC (55.6%) and AC (54.4%), since P=0.832>0.05, there was no difference in proportions of mild anemia in patients treated with either TC or AC.

Blood transfusion

In proportions of patients to who received blood transfusion during treatment with both TC (31.2%) and AC (14.8%), since P=0<0.05, there was a significant difference in their proportions. Blood was transferred to 16.4% fewer patients treated with AC than with TC.

Hemoglobin level

In proportions of patients’ hemoglobin level, during treatment with TC (>12 g/dL =15.3%, 11.5–11.9 g/dL =10.1%, 11–11.4 g/dL =20.1%, 10.5–10.9 g/dL =13.8%, 10–10.4 g/dL =14.8%, 9.5–9.9 g/dL =14.3%, <9.5 g/dL =11.6%) and AC (>12 g/dL =53.8%, 11.5–11.9 g/dL =14.8%, 11–11.4 g/dL =16.0%, 10.5–10.9 g/dL =7.7%, 10–10.4 g/dL =3.6%, 9.5–9.9 g/dL =2.4%, <9.5 g/dL =1.8%), since P=0.000<0.05, there was a significant difference in their proportions. A lower change of 12.35% in overall difference of hemoglobin level was calculated by Equations 1 and 2, for patients who were treated with AC than with TC.

Survival

In proportions of patients’ survival treated with both TC (93.1%) and AC (90.5%), since P=0.37>0.05, there was no difference in proportions of patients’ survival treated with either TC or AC.

Discussion

Different studies were presented including disease related to the health status and toxicity of anticancer drugs for breast cancer patients.13,29,30 There are different combinations of chemotherapy for postoperative therapy in breast cancer,31 especially combinations of docetaxel with doxorubicin and doxorubicin with cyclophosphamide as the first line of chemotherapy in invasive breast cancer.32 Another comparison was presented for different combinations including AC followed by docetaxel after a cycle of 21 days with doxorubicin and docetaxel every 14 days as neoadjuvant chemotherapy in operable breast cancer33 that involve results of a multicenter, randomized, phase III trial.34

For validation, the results of this study were compared with published results32 which found TC, with a different toxicity profile, more superior in terms of disease-free survival than AC, whereas this study found AC was less toxic than TC in more aspects. The TC cohort of grade 1, 2, 3, and 4 under their study suffered from asthenia with percentages of 43, 32, 3, and <1, respectively, a total of 78% compared to the AC cohort of all grades who suffered at percentages of 42, 31, 4, and <1, respectively, a total of 77%. Whereas in this study, 88.9% of the TC cohort of all grades suffered from asthenia compared with 90.5% of the AC cohort of all grades.

The TC cohort of all grades in their study suffered from myalgia with percentages of 22, 10, 1, and <1, respectively, a total of 33%, compared to the AC cohort of all grades who suffered at percentages of 11, 5, 1, and <1, respectively, a total of 17%. Whereas in this study, 62.4% of the TC cohort of all grades suffered from myalgia compared to 36.7% of the AC cohort of all grades.

The TC cohort of all grades in their study suffered from stomatitis with percentages of 23, 10, 1, and <1, respectively, a total of 34%, compared to the AC cohort of all grades who suffered at percentages of 29, 15, 1, and <1, respectively, a total of 46%. Whereas in this study, 67.2% of the TC cohort of all grades suffered from stomatitis compared with 93.5% of the AC cohort of all grades.

The TC cohort of all grades in their study suffered from vomiting with percentages of 9, 5, 1 and <1, respectively, a total of 17%, compared with the AC cohort of all grades who suffered at percentages of 21, 16, 5, and <1, respectively, a total of 42%. Whereas 93.3% of the TC cohort of all grades suffered from vomiting in this study compared with 88.2% of the AC cohort of all grades.

The TC cohort of all grades in their study suffered from nausea with percentages of 38, 13, 2, and <1, respectively, a total of 53%, compared with the AC cohort of all grades who suffered at percentages of 43, 32, 7, and 1, respectively, a total of 82%. Whereas 10% of the TC cohort of all grades in this study suffered from nausea compared to 13% of the AC cohort of all grades.

TC cohort of all grades in their study suffered from infection with percentages of 8, 4, 7, and <1, respectively, a total of 19%, compared with the AC cohort of all grades who suffered at percentages of 7, 5, 8, and <1, respectively, a total of 20%. Whereas 41% of the TC cohort of all grades in this study suffered from infection compared to 16% of the AC cohort of all grades.

The TC cohort of all grades in their study suffered from anemia with percentages of 3, 2, 1, and <1, respectively, a total of 6.8%, compared with the AC cohort of all grades who suffered at percentages of 4, 3, 1, and <1, respectively, a total of 8%. Whereas in this study, 55.6% of the TC cohort of all grades suffered from anemia compared with 54.4% of the AC cohort of all grades.

Jones et al32 found that the toxicities in general, were fairly similar between TC and AC groups but with certain exceptions. TC cohort faced significantly more grade 1 and 2 myalgia, edema, and arthralgia, whereas AC cohort with grade 1–4 had more vomiting and nausea. They also observed that in AC cohort, a single patient expired because of congestive heart failure, and four patients passed away because of myocardial infarction. In TC cohort, not a single case of congestive heart failure was seen; however, two patients expired because of myocardial infarction. Greater levels of neutropenia and fever were seen with TC in 25 patients, compared with AC (13 patients). Two patients passed away (one death due to neutropenia and sepsis and one unrelated cardiac death) while being treated with TC; not a single patient expired while being treated with AC. They found clinically significant toxicities, as discussed previously. No cases of myelodysplasia or leukemia were observed.

Conclusion

It has been observed that TC is less toxic across the aspects of TC and AC toxicity studied in this work. No statistically significant difference in the proportions of patients treated with both TC and AC combinations with regards to vomiting, extreme tiredness, diarrhea, stability, mild anemia, and overall survival was found. However, TC was less toxic in terms of weight loss, dizziness, and sores in throat and mouth in comparison with AC (Figure 4), whereas AC was less toxic in terms of change in taste, muscle pain, burning in hands and feet, change in hemoglobin level, moderate anemia, and needing blood transfusion compared to TC. Therefore, it is concluded that doxorubicin with cyclophosphamide may give better results in stopping tumor growth with lower toxicity, as mentioned in Table 2. Hemoglobin level, weight loss and gain, and blood transfusion in patients treated with TC and AC were the novel aspects compared in this study.

Figure 4

A summary of the analytical results.

Abbreviations: AC, doxorubicin plus cyclophosphamide; otHbc, overall trend in patients’ hemoglobin change; TC, docetaxel plus cyclophosphamide.