Should paclitaxel be combined with epirubicin or carboplatin as first-line chemotherapy for advanced breast cancer?
DESIGN This randomized, phase III trial enrolled women with histologically proven advanced breast cancer, who were aged ≥18 years, with life expectancy ≥12 weeks, performance status ≤2 on the ECOG Scale, and with adequate bone marrow, hepatic, cardiac, and renal function. Exclusion criteria included symptomatic brain metastases, history of other malignancy (except nonmelanoma skin cancer or in situ cervical cancer that was curatively resected), or recent myocardial infarction. Previous chemotherapy was not permitted and pre treatment with hormonal therapy or radiation was stopped 4 weeks before entry to the study.