OnCo
Cancers & treatments·Regimen libraryAdjuvant

TAC

Checked 2026-09-09

Adjuvant chemotherapy for node-positive early breast cancer

One cycle

every 21 days × 6 · about 18 weeks in total
178141521Docetaxel: 75 mg/m², IntravenousDocetaxelDoxorubicin: 50 mg/m², IntravenousDoxorubicinCyclophosphamide: 500 mg/m², IntravenousCyclophosphamide
21-day cycle × 6 (about 18 weeks)Intravenous

Components

DrugDoseRouteDays
Docetaxel
Cytotoxic chemotherapy (taxane)
75 mg/m²IVD1
Doxorubicin
Cytotoxic chemotherapy (anthracycline)
50 mg/m²IVD1
Cyclophosphamide
Alkylating agent (oxazaphosphorine prodrug)
500 mg/m²IVD1
Cycles
6
21-day cycle
Emetogenicity
High (>90%)
G-CSF
Recommended

Notes

  • Febrile neutropenia in about a quarter of patients without G-CSF, so primary prophylaxis is standard.
  • Sequential AC then docetaxel (or dose-dense AC-T) is the more common alternative.

Used in

HR-positive / HER2-negative breast cancerHER2-positive breast cancerTriple-negative breast cancer (TNBC)
Products
DocetaxelDoxorubicinCyclophosphamide

Source

Martin (BCIRG 001), NEJM 2005: TAC versus FAC

Reference doses for a typical adult from the cited protocol or label. Doses are adjusted for renal and hepatic function, age, performance status and prior toxicity, and institutional protocols vary. Verify against the current label and your local protocol before treating. Not medical advice.

Other regimens for these cancers

Everolimus
Advanced progressive NET (RADIANT-3, RADIANT-4); RCC and HR-positive breast cancer after prior therapy
every 28 days
Dose-dense AC → T
Node-positive or high-risk early breast cancer, adjuvant or neoadjuvant
every 14 days × 4
TC (docetaxel + cyclophosphamide)
Early breast cancer when an anthracycline is not wanted
every 21 days × 4
KEYNOTE-522 (pembrolizumab + chemotherapy, then adjuvant pembrolizumab)
Stage II-III triple-negative breast cancer
every 21 days × 4
TCHP
Stage II-III HER2-positive breast cancer, neoadjuvant
every 21 days × 6
APT (weekly paclitaxel + trastuzumab)
Stage I HER2-positive breast cancer, node-negative, tumour 3 cm or smaller
weekly × 12
THP (docetaxel + trastuzumab + pertuzumab)
HER2-positive metastatic breast cancer first line, then HP maintenance
every 21 days
Trastuzumab deruxtecan 5.4 mg/kg
HER2-positive metastatic breast cancer second line; HER2-low or ultralow after chemotherapy or endocrine therapy; HER2-mutant NSCLC
every 21 days
All regimensVIP →