In two trials (USOR 06–090 and NSABP B-46-I)18 of docetaxel plus cyclophosphamide with or without concurrent anthracycline reporting treatment toxicity, adverse events of grade 3 or worse were similar with and without anthracycline (580 [50·1%] of 1148 participants vs 581 [49·7%] of 1170 participants for any toxicity, 289 [25·2%] vs 320 [27·4%] for neutropenia, and 84 [7·3%] vs 77 [6·6%] for neutropenic sepsis; granulocyte colony stimulating factor prophylaxis was mandated in the anthracycline group only). Here, CSF3 is linked to Decreased total neutrophil count.