Cisplatin versus carboplatin in combination with paclitaxel as neoadjuvant regimen for triple negative breast cancer

BACKGROUND: Platinum salts have demonstrated sufficient efficacy and safety for consideration of their use in a neoadjuvant setting for triple negative breast cancer (TNBC). PATIENTS AND METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed 145 TNBC cases to compare the activity and tolerability of cisplatin and carboplatin. Two groups received weekly paclitaxel and platinum salts. RESULTS: In total, 87% of patients in the cisplatin group and 82% of patients in the carboplatin group experienced a clinical objective response after four cycles (complete response or partial response; P=0.570). Pathological complete response (pCR) occurred similarly in the cisplatin group and the carboplatin group (44% versus 42%, P=0.789). In survival analysis, there was no difference between the two regimens. The most common grade 3/4 adverse events were neutropenia and leukopenia. CONCLUSION: There was no significant difference between the groups in terms of adverse events. Both types of platinum salts and weekly paclitaxel are feasible therapies that achieved high pCR rates and tolerability in TNBC patients.