Women with metastatic breast cancer without triple-negative disease appear to experience little survival benefit and increased toxicity from platinum-based regimens, according to an updated Cochrane review of 24 studies involving more than 4,400 women. However, it may be helpful for those with triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC). Among the findings:

• Compared to chemotherapy without platinum, chemotherapy with platinum did not increase survival time for women with metastatic breast cancer without triple negative disease (high-quality evidence).
• Women with metastatic TNBC may experience better survival with platinum-based therapy (low-quality evidence).
• The number of recurrences was reduced in patients with triple negative disease who received platinum-based therapy (low-quality evidence).
• This was not the case for those without triple-negative disease.
• Platinum-based therapy was more likely to shrink tumors.
• Those taking platinum-based therapy were more apt to experience nausea/vomiting, anemia, leukopenia, and hair loss.