Several recent strategies have improved efficacy of systemic treatment for patients with high-risk early stage breast cancer: the addition of a dual HER2-blockade for HER2-positive; the implementation of carboplatin for TNBC and the use of dose-dense or dose-dense, dose escalated chemotherapy in all high-risk subtypes of breast cancer. Two regimen are currently considered to have highest efficacy: sequential treatment of high dose epirubicin, taxane, and cyclophosphamide (ETC) concomitantly with a dual HER2-blockade mainly based on the AGO ETC adjuvant study, and weekly treatment with paclitaxel/non-pegylated liposomal doxorubicin with dual HER2-blockade or carboplatin (PM(Cb)) based on the GeparSixto study. The aim of the GeparOcto study is to compare those two regimen/strategies.~Both regimens are myelosuppressive with a significant incidence of chemotherapy induced anaemia. Anemia is often associated with impaired physical and cognitive function and consequently the patients suffer from a reduced quality of life. Surgical complications are higher in anemic patients. The second aim of the GeparOcto study is therefore to compare the use of parental ferric carboxymaltose versus physician's choice for the treatment of chemotherapy-induced anemia in patients with iron deficiency.
Two regimen are currently considered to have highest efficacy for patients with high-risk early stage breast cancer: sequential treatment of high dose epirubicin, taxane, and cyclophosphamide concomitantly with a dual HER2-blockade, and weekly treatment with paclitaxel/non-pegylated liposomal doxorubicin with dual HER2-blockade or carboplatin. The aim of the GeparOcto study is to compare those two regimen/strategies.~Both regimens are myelosuppressive with a significant incidence of chemotherapy induced anaemia.~The second aim of the GeparOcto study is therefore to compare the use of parental ferric carboxymaltose versus physician's choice for the treatment of chemotherapy-induced anemia in patients with iron deficiency.