Abstract: Compositions comprising a taxane or taxoid, such as paclitaxel, and a protein, such as albumin or a metal-transferrin, such as gallium-transferrin, can be prepared by combining an aqueous protein solution with a second solution containing the taxane or taxoid, a non-ionic surfactant, and an alcohol; adjusting the pH of the combined solutions to between about 7.9 and about 8.3; and purifying the pH-adjusted solution to remove solutes having a molecular weight less than 10,000 Da. Such compositions can be prepared that are substantially free of non-ionic surfactants, such as Cremophor EL, and are useful in the treatment of cancers, such as breast cancer.