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What is the TC chemo regimen and how does it treat breast cancer?

Medically reviewed by Carmen Pope, BPharm. Last updated on May 8, 2025.

Official Answer by Drugs.com

TC is a chemotherapy regimen that combines Taxotere with cyclophosphamide and can be used before or after surgery to treat early-stage or localized breast cancer (breast cancer that hasn’t spread).

Combination chemotherapy, such as TC, usually works better than individual drugs because each agent works in a different way to kill cancer cells and reduce cancer spread.

What drugs are in TC chemotherapy?

The 2 drugs contained in TC are:

The complementary mechanisms of action of these two agents means they have a powerful synergistic effect when combined because they:

How is TC administered?

TC is usually given once every three weeks (21 days). It will be given intravenously (into your blood stream) by a healthcare provider in an infusion clinic or other medical facility.

Treatment may be given through a long plastic tube that goes into a large vein in your chest, such as a central line, PICC line, or a portacath, if you have one. Otherwise it may be given through a thin short tube (cannula) that goes into your arm or hand.

TC is usually given as cycles of treatment. Each cycle lasts 21 days (3 weeks).

Sometimes premedication, such as antinausea treatment, is given before receiving TC.

Most people can expect to be at the clinic for 3 to 4 hours each time they receive TC chemotherapy.

When is TC used in Breast Cancer treatment?

TC is one option to treat early-stage node-negative or low-risk node-positive breast cancer that requires chemotherapy. The most common uses of TC include:

Because TC does not contain an anthracycline, it may be given to breast cancer patients with heart issues, because anthracyclines (such as doxorubicin (Adriamycin) cannot be used in these patients.

When considering what chemotherapy regimen to use, healthcare providers take into account:

How effective is TC chemotherapy?

TC chemotherapy is an effective alternative to AC (doxorubicin/cyclophosphamide) chemotherapy in breast cancer treatment. TC demonstrates comparable or superior survival outcomes while avoiding anthracycline-related cardiac toxicity, making it particularly valuable for patients with cardiac risk factors.

The results below were primarily derived from the US Oncology 9735 trial, which provided the strongest direct comparison of TC vs. AC. Subsequent meta-analyses and real-world data have generally supported these findings.

Related questions

Overall Survival (OS)

US Oncology 9735 Trial: TC showed superior overall survival compared to AC at 7-year follow-up

Extended Follow-up Data: TC maintained survival advantage at longer follow-up periods, with persistent benefit observed through 10+ years

Disease-Free Survival (DFS)

Primary Endpoint Results: TC demonstrated improved DFS compared to AC

Subset Analysis: DFS benefit was observed across most major subgroups, including both node-positive and node-negative patients

Recurrence Reduction

Key Considerations

What are the common side effects of TC?

Most side effects from TC are temporary and manageable.

The most common side effects of TC are:

Less common side effects of TC are:

Rarely, TC may cause bladder damage, secondary blood cancers (such as leukemia), or lung inflammation.

Managing side effects from TC

Allergic reactions

Hair loss

Infection

Swelling, nausea, and vomiting

Nausea and vomiting

Diarrhea

Constipation

Peripheral neuropathy

Fertility

Important considerations during treatment

Blood monitoring required before each cycle.

References
  • Chemotherapy for Breast Cancer. American Cancer Society. https://www.cancer.org/cancer/types/breast-cancer/treatment/chemotherapy-for-breast-cancer.html
  • TC Chemotherapy teaching. Mass General Cancer Center. https://www.massgeneral.org/assets/mgh/pdf/cancer-center/breast-cancer/chemotherapy-regimen-tc.pdf
  • TC Protocol: Taxotere + Cytoxan. BreastCancer.org https://www.breastcancer.org/drugs/TC-chemo
  • Jones S, Holmes FA, O'Shaughnessy J, Blum JL, Vukelja SJ, McIntyre KJ, Pippen JE, Bordelon JH, Kirby RL, Sandbach J, Hyman WJ, Richards DA, Mennel RG, Boehm KA, Meyer WG, Asmar L, Mackey D, Riedel S, Muss H, Savin MA. Docetaxel With Cyclophosphamide Is Associated With an Overall Survival Benefit Compared With Doxorubicin and Cyclophosphamide: 7-Year Follow-Up of US Oncology Research Trial 9735. J Clin Oncol. 2009 Mar 10;27(8):1177-83. doi: 10.1200/JCO.2008.18.4028. Epub 2009 Feb 9. PMID: 19204201.
  • Caparica R, Bruzzone M, Poggio F, Ceppi M, de Azambuja E, Lambertini M. Anthracycline and taxane-based chemotherapy versus docetaxel and cyclophosphamide in the adjuvant treatment of HER2-negative breast cancer patients: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Breast Cancer Res Treat. 2019 Feb;174(1):27-37. doi: 10.1007/s10549-018-5055-9. Epub 2018 Nov 21. PMID: 30465156.

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