Anthracyclines are among the most active drugs for the treatment of advanced 
breast cancer. Epirubicin has been found to be as effective as doxorubicin at 
equimolar doses but significantly better tolerated, especially in terms of 
alopecia, leucopenia, and cardiac toxicity. The role of anthracycline-containing 
regimens in adjuvant treatment of breast cancer has been studied by only a few 
clinical trial teams. In 1986, the French Adjuvant Study Group (FASG) began a 
randomised trial aimed to investigate the concept of dose intensity as well as 
the optimal duration of treatment in patients with early breast cancer. Between 
1986 and 1990, 621 patients were included in the trial, of whom 595 were 
evaluable. Patients were randomised to 1 of 3 treatment groups: Group A (n = 
207) received FEC 50 (fluorouracil 500 mg/m2, epirubicin 50 mg/m2 plus 
cyclophosphamide 500 mg/m2) every 21 days for 6 cycles; Group B (n = 193) 
received FEC 50 every 21 days for 3 cycles; Group C (n = 195) received FEC 75 
(fluorouracil 500 mg/m2, epirubicin 75 mg/m2 plus cyclophosphamide 500 mg/m2) 
every 21 days for 3 cycles. Locoregional radiotherapy was administered after the 
third cycle of chemotherapy in all treatment arms. Clinical prognostic factors 
were similar between treatment groups. Approximately 62% of all patients had 1 
to 3 positive lymph nodes; 50% of patients were hormone receptor positive and 
73% were Scarff-Bloom Richardson (SBR) grade 2 to 3. Toxicity was evaluated in 
595 patients (207, 193 and 195 patients in Groups A, B and C, respectively), who 
received a total of 2301 chemotherapy cycles.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)