Taxane-based chemotherapy and risk of breast cancer-related lymphedema Protocol for a systematic review and meta-analysis

Background: Many studies were performed to explore the correlation between taxane-based chemotherapy and the risk of breast cancer-related lymphedema (BCRL), however, with inconsistent results. Hence, the purpose of this study is to evaluate whether taxane-based chemotherapy is a risk factor for BCRL. Methods: A comprehensive systematic search of clinical trials published in the PubMed, Embase and the Cochrane Library databases will be conducted to identify eligible studies up to the date of December 31, 2018. We will employ risk ratios with 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs) to estimate the correlations between taxane-based chemotherapy and BCRL. Meta-analysis will be performed using Stata SE version 12.0 software. Results: The results of this systematic review and meta-analysis will provide a high-quality synthesis of existing evidence of the correlations between taxane-based chemotherapy and the risk of BCRL. Conclusion: The protocol will provide updated evidence for the use of taxane-based chemotherapy in postoperative breast cancer patients. Ethics and dissemination: It is not necessary for ethical approval because it is based on published studies. The protocol will be disseminated in a peer-reviewed journal or presented at a topic-related conference.