Anthracyclines increase the long-term risk of cardiovascular disease and acute myeloid leukaemia,5–7 and dose-dependent peripheral neuropathy is problematic with taxanes.8 Hence, particularly for women with low-risk tumours treated with optimal surgery or radiotherapy (and endocrine or anti-HER2 therapy when appropriate), the benefits of anthracycline plus taxane chemotherapy might be insufficient to outweigh the risks compared with less intensive or no chemotherapy. This evidence concerns the gene ERBB2 and neoplasm.