The current evidence for the use of nanoparticle albumin‑bound paclitaxel (nab‑PTX) for adjuvant breast cancer chemotherapy is insufficient. The present study aimed to assess the efficacy and toxicity of nab‑PTX in comparison with solvent‑based paclitaxel (sb‑PTX) in postoperative adjuvant breast cancer treatment. A total of 345 patients were included in the study and separated into nab‑PTX (n=289) and sb‑PTX (n=56) groups based on the type of taxane used in the adjuvant chemotherapy regimen. The study evaluated the baseline characteristics in both groups and the risk factors for postoperative recurrence of mammary cancer. Furthermore, data concerning disease‑free survival (DFS) and adverse effects were obtained and analyzed, and group confounding variables were addressed using 1:2 propensity score matching (PSM). Comparisons before PSM revealed significant differences in baseline characteristics including age, underlying disease, lymph node involvement, vascular invasion, human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 and axillary surgery (P<0.05). Following PSM, there were 90 patients in the nab‑PTX group and 56 in the sb‑PTX group, with no significant differences in the baseline differences (P>0.05). Before PSM, the 73‑month DFS rate was 97.9% in the nab‑PTX group compared with 91.1% in the sb‑PTX group. However, there were no significant differences between the groups before or after PSM (P=0.15 and P=0.49, respectively). Additionally, Cox regression analysis demonstrated a significantly lower chance of recurrence in patients aged >45 years [hazard ratio (HR), 0.197; 95% confidence interval (CI), 0.052‑0.753; P=0.018], whereas underlying disease (HR, 5.352; 95% CI, 1.310‑21.854; P=0.019) and lymph node infiltration (HR, 8.930; 95% CI, 1.121‑71.161; P=0.039) significantly increased the risk of recurrence. Regarding safety, the sb‑PTX group had a significantly greater incidence of anaphylaxis, whereas the nab‑PTX group had significantly increased rates of anemia and peripheral neuropathy (P<0.05). In summary, the 73‑month DFS rate of the nab‑PTX cohort exceeded that of the sb‑PTX cohort, but no significant difference was detected between them. Underlying disease, lymph node metastasis and an age of ≤45 years are significant predictors of postoperative recurrence of breast cancer. 

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