Cancers & treatments·Regimen libraryAdjuvant

AC (doxorubicin, cyclophosphamide)

Checked 2026-09-09

Adjuvant chemotherapy for early breast cancer, four cycles, usually followed by a taxane (AC-T) or given dose-dense every 14 days

Also called AC, Adriamycin-cyclophosphamide.

One cycle

every 21 days × 4 · about 12 weeks in total

21-day cycle × 4 (about 12 weeks)Intravenous

Components

Drug	Dose	Route	Days	Note
Doxorubicin Cytotoxic chemotherapy (anthracycline)	60 mg/m²	IV	D1
Cyclophosphamide Alkylating agent (oxazaphosphorine prodrug)	600 mg/m²	IV	D1

Cycles

21-day cycle

Emetogenicity

High (>90%)

G-CSF

Consider (10-20% FN risk)

Notes

B-15 established that two months of AC matched six months of CMF, making AC the anthracycline backbone of adjuvant breast cancer therapy.
Cumulative doxorubicin is limited to 240 mg/m² over four cycles; check LVEF.

Used in

HR-positive / HER2-negative breast cancer HER2-positive breast cancer Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC)

Products

DoxorubicinCyclophosphamide

Source

Fisher (NSABP B-15), JCO 1990: four cycles of AC equal to six months of CMF

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.