Table 1.

Description of the study regimens described in this paper

Trial	First author [Ref.]	Dose dense or dose intensified	Dosing of the experimental arm, mg/m2	Dosing of the standard arm, mg/m2	Supplements
AGO 1 Phase III	Untch [12]	dose intensified	6× E 150 P 250 q2w	4× E 90, P 175 q3w	All after surgery: CMF ddEP + G-CSF
Phase III
GeparDuo	Von Minckwitz [13]	dose dense	4× A 50 DOC 75 q2w	6× A 60 C 600 q3w 4× DOC 100 q3w	ADOC+ G-CSF
Phase III
Prepare	Untch [14]	dose intensified	3× E 150 q2w 3× P 225 q2w, followed by 3× C 500 M 40 F 600 d 1 + 8 q4w	E 90 C 600 q3w followed by 4× P 175 q3w	diEP + G-CSF 2nd randomization to darbepeotin alpha: no benefit seems to compromise OS
Phase III
Phase III	Baldini [17]	dose dense	C 600 E 60 F 600 q2w	C 600 E 60 F 600 q3w	q2w + G-CSF, both arms continued with adjuvant chemotherapy
EORTC-NCIC-SAKK	Therasse [16]	dose intensified	6× C 75 (p.o. d 1–14) E 60 (d 1 + 8) F 50 (d 1 + 8) q4w	6× E 120 C 830 q2w	G-CSF for EC
Phase III
SWOG 0012	Ellis [21]	dose intensified	15× ddA 24 C 60 (d p.o. q1w) followed by 12× P 80	5× A 60 C 600 q3w followed by 12× P 80	G-CSF for the weekly dd AC
Phase III
GeparSixto	Von Minckwitz [23, 24]	dose dense both arms	18× P 80 q1w + M 20 q1w + Cb AUC 1.5 q1w if HER2 pos: + Trast/Lap if TNBC: + bevacizumab	18× P 80 q1w + M 20 q1w if HER2 pos: +Trast/Lap if TNBC: + bevacizumab	No G-CSF
Phase II

E = epirubicin, P = paclitaxel, C = cyclosphosphamide, M = methotrexate, F = 5-fluorouracil, A = adriamycin, ns = not significant, sig = significant, DOC = docetaxel, M = non-pegylated liposomal doxorubicin, Cb = carboplatin, Trast = trastuzumab, Lap = lapatinib, d = day, p.o. = orally, OS = overall survival, G-CSF = granulocyte-colony-stimulating factor.