The taxanes docetaxel and paclitaxel have established roles as two of the most active agents in the treatment of metastatic breast cancer. These two drugs are now being incorporated into the management of early breast cancer. A first generation of trials has explored whether the addition of taxanes either sequentially or in combination with adjuvant anthracycline-based chemotherapy improves outcome for patients with early breast cancer. A second generation of trials are now underway which are based on the assumption that taxanes are beneficial in the adjuvant setting, and are comparing the different taxanes, dosing regimens and the addition of further agents. Trials in the neoadjuvant setting have recently demonstrated improved response rates with the addition of taxanes into existing anthracycline-based regimes. This review critically appraises these trials and provides an overview of ongoing research in the area.