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Docetaxel is a chemotherapy drug that kills and slows the growth of cancer cells. Docetaxel is commonly used to treat breast cancer, lung cancer, prostate cancer, stomach cancer, and head and neck cancer.
1. Docetaxel drug effects
The cancer drug Docetaxel is a semi-synthetic taxane similar to paclitaxel. This is an antiretroviral drug of the mitotic spindle. Docetaxel is usually indicated in the following cases:
Primary breast cancer (cancer that has not spread to the breast or lymph nodes under the arm); Non-small cell lung cancer; Prostate cancer ; Stomach cancer; Head and neck cancer.
2. Dosage of the drug Docetaxel
Docetaxel is for intravenous use only, the infusion time is usually 1 hour and may be faster if the patient does not have a reaction on the first infusion. Do not infuse for too long (6-24 hours) or close infusions (5 days). Depending on the purpose and subject of treatment, the dose of Docetaxel will be different, specifically as follows:
For early breast cancer:
Docetaxel is used in combination with Doxorubicin and Cyclophostamide; The dose of Docetaxel is 75 mg/m2 intravenously over 1 hour, after doxorubicin 50 mg/m2 and 500 mg/m2 cyclophosphamide have been infused over 1 hour. Infusion every 3 weeks and use 6 cycles. For advanced or metastatic breast cancer after failure of previous chemotherapy:
Reference dose is 60-100 mg/m2 Docetaxel IV infusion over 1 hour, every 3 weeks if tolerated by patient medicine. The number of treatment cycles can be 4-5 cycles For the treatment of non-small cell lung cancer:
If the patient is inoperable late stage, the recommended dose is 75 mg/m2 intravenously 1 hours Then intravenous infusion of Cisplatin 75mg/m2 over 30-60 minutes. Every 3 weeks; Higher doses should not be used because of the increased toxicity in these patients. For the treatment of prostate cancer:
Docetaxel is often used to treat hormone-resistant, metastatic prostate cancer: Docetaxel dose of 74mg/m2 is infused intravenously over 1 hour, every 3 weeks. Prednisolone 5mg orally 2 times, used continuously. For gastric cancer:
Antiemetic drugs and adequate hydration should be taken before cisplatin infusion, granulocytosis-stimulating factor (G-CSF) may be used for early prevention; The usual dose of Docetaxel is 74 mg/m2 intravenously over 1 hour on day 1, followed by the same dose but infused over 1-3 hours. After completing cisplatin infusion, fluorouracil 750 mg/m2 continued for 24 hours for 5 days, every 3 weeks. For head and neck cancer:
It is necessary to take antiemetics and rehydrate before use, possibly need to take antibiotics to prevent neutropenic infections; Docetaxel dose is usually 75 mg/m2 intravenously over 1 hour. For special subjects:
The drug is eliminated by the kidneys very little, so there is no need to adjust the dose in case of renal failure; Docetaxel should not be used in people with total bilirubin above the normal limit or elevated liver enzymes; For patients with AST/ALT >2.5-5, use 80% of the dose and if AST/ALT >5, discontinue docetaxel.
3. Docetaxel side effects
In some patients when using Docetaxel, side effects may occur such as:
Weight gain, edema; Dizziness, sensory disturbances; Hair loss; Changes in the nail, skin, or subcutaneous tissue; Fever, stomatitis, diarrhea, nausea; Neutropenia, leukopenia, anemia, fever with neutropenia, thrombocytopenia, increased transaminases; Fatigue, aches, muscle weakness; Chest tightness, difficulty breathing; Infection; Reduced left ventricular ejection fraction, vasodilation, decreased blood pressure; Taste disturbance, increased bilirubin, increased alkaline phosphatase, local inflammatory reaction. Less common but important side effects include:
Arrhythmia, atrial fibrillation, atrial flutter, atrioventricular block; Myocardial infarction , angina pectoris, heart failure; Deep vein occlusion, hypertension; Seizures, colitis, constipation, gastrointestinal bleeding; Shortness of breath, acute respiratory failure; Erythema multiforme, Stevens-Johnson syndrome; Poisoning, conjunctivitis, lacrimation; Hepatitis, ascites, multi-organ failure.
4. Be careful when using Docetaxel
Some general notes when using Docetaxel include:
Regularly and periodically complete blood tests to evaluate liver and kidney function; Monitor for hypersensitivity, sensory disturbances, gastrointestinal toxicity, skin reactions, fluid retention, lacrimation; Patients must drink enough water during treatment, proper nutrition; The drug overdose reactions are usually bone marrow suppression, peripheral neurotoxicity and mucositis, but there is no specific antidote for Docetaxel. Above are the uses, doses and precautions when using Docetaxel. To use Docetaxel safely and effectively, patients need to use it exactly as prescribed by their doctor.
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