From July 2005 to November 2008 , 1001 patients ( 990 eligible ) were randomized to receive , every 2 weeks , 3 cycles of epirubicin 110 mg/m2 followed by 3 cycles of paclitaxel 200 mg/m2 followed by 3 cycles of intensified CMF ( Arm A ; 333 patients ) , or 3 cycles of epirubicin followed by 3 cycles of CMF , as in Arm A , followed 3 weeks later by 9 weekly cycles of docetaxel 35 mg/m2 ( Arm B ; 331 ) , or 9 weekly cycles of paclitaxel 80 mg/m2 ( Arm C ; 326 ) .