Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Docetaxel

A Review of its Use in Metastatic Breast Cancer

  • Adis Drug Evaluation
  • Published:
Drugs Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Summary

Abstract

Docetaxel (Taxotere®), a cytotoxic taxane, is an antimicrotubule agent effective in the treatment of patients with breast cancer. The clinical profile of docetaxel as an effective cytotoxic agent in the treatment of metastatic breast cancer is well established. As yet, no single standard regimen has been identified as optimal for the treatment of patients with metastatic breast cancer after failure of prior chemotherapy. However, the efficacy of docetaxel monotherapy administered every 3 weeks as a 1-hour infusion is similar to or better than that of doxorubicin, paclitaxel and fluorouracil plus vinorelbine, and better than that of methotrexate plus fluorouracil or mitomycin plus vinblastine. Although docetaxel is associated with neutropenia and other adverse events, its overall tolerability profile is generally acceptable in the majority of patients. Docetaxel, therefore, is an effective option in the treatment of patients with metastatic breast cancer after failure of prior chemotherapy.

Pharmacological Properties

Docetaxel is an antimicrotubule agent that principally exerts its cytotoxic activity by promoting and stabilising microtubule assembly while simultaneously preventing microtubule depolymerisation. This results in inhibition of normal cell division. In vitro and in vivo, docetaxel has antineoplastic activity against a wide range of cancer cells, demonstrates synergistic activity with several antineoplastic agents and often has greater cytotoxic activity against human breast cancer cell lines than paclitaxel.

The pharmacokinetics of docetaxel are linear at clinically relevant doses and are consistent with a three-compartment model. Docetaxel is highly bound to plasma proteins, but has a large volume of distribution at steady state. It is primarily metabolised by the cytochrome P450 3A4 isoenzyme and is excreted primarily faecally via the biliary tract. Clearance of the drug is a strong independent predictor of severe haematological toxicity in cancer patients.

Therapeutic Efficacy

In women with metastatic breast cancer previously exposed to anthracyclines or alkylating agents, docetaxel monotherapy was associated with median values for overall survival of 10.4–16.0 months, objective response rate (ORR) of 30.0–47.8% and time to tumour progression (TTP) of 4.4–6.5 months. In head-to-head comparative trials, docetaxel monotherapy was at least as effective (in terms of overall survival time, ORR and TTP) as doxorubicin, paclitaxel and fluorouracil plus vinorelbine, and was more effective than methotrexate plus fluorouracil or mitomycin plus vinblastine. Median values for survival time (15.4 vs 12.7 months), TTP (5.7 vs 3.6 months) and response duration (7.5 vs 4.6 months) were significantly (p ≤ 0.03) longer with docetaxel than with paclitaxel. Differences between docetaxel and comparators in health-related quality-of-life outcomes were generally not significant.

In phase III combination therapy studies, docetaxel combined with doxorubicin or epirubicin resulted in similar overall survival to clinically relevant comparator combinations. Outcomes were similar with docetaxel plus either capecitabine or gemcitabine and the former combination was more effective than docetaxel monotherapy.

Tolerability

While severe adverse events were common, the tolerability of docetaxel in comparative clinical trials was generally acceptable. Severe neutropenia affects most docetaxel recipients, with febrile neutropenia occurring in approximately one-eighth of patients. Dose-cumulative severe fluid retention was reported in 6.5% of docetaxel recipients, despite premedication with prophylactic corticosteroids. Other grade 3 or 4 adverse events include asthenia, stomatitis, infections, neurosensory, cutaneous or gastrointestinal events, nail changes, severe fever in the absence of infection, myalgia and hypersensitivity reactions.

In comparative monotherapy trials, neutropenia generally occurred more often with docetaxel than with comparators, excepting doxorubicin, where the incidence was similar. Other severe haematological, cardiac and gastrointestinal adverse events were less frequent with docetaxel than with doxorubicin. Docetaxel was associated with significantly higher incidences of grade 3 or 4 neutropenia and febrile neutropenia and several non-haematological adverse events than paclitaxel; however, patients in the docetaxel arm received more cycles of therapy than those in the paclitaxel arm (six vs four cycles). Docetaxel tolerability in combination therapy regimens was generally similar to that of comparator drugs, apart from a higher incidence of haematological adverse events.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Table I
Table II
Table III
Table IV
Fig. 1
Table V
Table VI

Similar content being viewed by others

Notes

  1. The use of trade names is for product identification purposes only and does not imply endorsement.

References

  1. American Cancer Society. Cancer facts and figures 2005. Atlanta (GA): American Cancer Society, 2005

    Google Scholar 

  2. National Comprehensive Cancer Network. NCCN clinical practice guidelines in oncology — v.2.2005: breast cancer [online]. Available from URL: http://nccn.org [Accessed 2005 Aug 8]

  3. National Cancer Institute. Breast cancer (PDQ): treatment [online]. Available from URL: http://www.cancer.gov [Accessed 2005 Aug 8]

  4. Fulton B, Spencer CM. Docetaxel: a review of its pharmacodynamic and pharmacokinetic properties and therapeutic efficacy in the management of metastatic breast cancer. Drugs 1996; 51(6): 1075–92

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. Figgitt DP, Wiseman LR. Docetaxel: an update of its use in advanced breast cancer. Drugs 2000 Mar; 59(3): 621–51

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Keam SJ, Scott LJ. Docetaxel in the treatment of operable breast cancer. Am J Cancer 2004; 3(5): 325–32

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Eisenhauer EA, Vermorken JB. The taxoids: comparative clinical pharmacology and therapeutic potential. Drugs 1998; 55(1): 5–30

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Hortobagyi GN. Recent progress in the clinical development of docetaxel (Taxotere). Semin Oncol 1999; 26: 32–6

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. Eckardt JR. Antitumor activity of docetaxel. Am J Health Syst Pharm 1997 Dec 15; 54 Suppl. 2: S2–6

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. Sawada N, Ishikawa T, Fukase Y, et al. Induction of thymidine phosphorylase activity and enhancement of capecitabine efficacy by Taxol/Taxotere in human cancer xenografts. Clin Cancer Res 1998; 4: 1013–9

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. Kollin CA, Evans SS, Su Y-Z, et al. A direct comparison of paclitaxel and docetaxel activities in human tumors [abstract no. 655]. Proc Am Soc Clin Oncol 2003; 22: 163

    Google Scholar 

  12. Bernard-Marty C, Treilleux I, Dumontet C, et al. Microtubuleassociated parameters as predictive markers of docetaxel activity in advanced breast cancer patients: results of a pilot study. Clin Breast Cancer 2002 Dec; 3(5): 341–5

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  13. Di Leo A, Chan S, Paesmans M, et al. HER-2/neu as a predictive marker in a population of advanced breast cancer patients randomly treated either with single-agent doxorubicin or single-agent docetaxel. Breast Cancer Res Treat 2004 Aug; 86(3): 197–206

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  14. Durbecq V, Paesmans M, Cardoso F, et al. Topoisomerase-II α expression as a predictive marker in a population of advanced breast cancer patients randomly treated either with singleagent doxorubicin or single-agent docetaxel. Mol Cancer Ther 2004 Oct; 3(10): 1207–14

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  15. Sjöström J, Collan J, von Boguslawski K, et al. C-erbB-2 expression does not predict response to docetaxel or sequential methotrexate and 5-fluorouracil in advanced breast cancer. Eur J Cancer 2002 Mar; 38: 535–42

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  16. Sjöström J, Blomqvist C, Heikkilä P, et al. Predictive value of p53, mdm-2, p21, and mib-1 for chemotherapy response in advanced breast cancer. Clin Cancer Res 2000 Aug; 6: 3103–10

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  17. Desmedt C, Tanner M, Angelo DL, et al. p-53 gene mutations as a predictive marker in advanced breast cancer patients randomly treated either with doxorubicin or with docetaxel [abstract no. 1034]. Breast Cancer Res Treat 2004; 88 Suppl. 1: S52

    Google Scholar 

  18. Aventis Pharma. Taxotere (docetaxel) injection concentrate: US prescribing information. Bridgewater (NJ): Avenus Pharmaceuticals Inc., 2005 Feb

  19. Clarke SJ, Rivory LP. Clinical pharmacokinetics of docetaxel. Clin Pharmacokinet 1999; 36(2): 99–114

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  20. Bruno R, Hille D, Riva A, et al. Population pharmacokinetics/ pharmacodynamics of docetaxel in phase II studies in patients with cancer. J Clin Oncol 1998; 16: 187–96

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  21. Campone M, Fumoleau P, Delecroix V, et al. Phase I dosefinding and pharmacokinetic study of docetaxel and vinorelbine as first-line chemotherapy for metastatic breast cancer. Ann Oncol 2001 Jul; 12: 909–18

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  22. Lunardi G, Venturini M, Vannozzi MO, et al. Influence of alternate sequences of epirubicin and docetaxel on the pharmacokinetic behavior of both drugs in advanced breast cancer. Ann Oncol 2002; 13: 280–5

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  23. Alexandre J, Rey E, Dieras V, et al. Prospective study of predictive factors of docetaxel (DCX)-induced febrile neutropenia (FN): relevance of in vivo cytochrome 3A (CYP3A) phenotyping [abstract no. 2046]. J Clin Oncol 2005; 23 (16 Suppl. Pt 1): 146S

    Google Scholar 

  24. Yamamoto N, Tamura T, Murakami H, et al. Randomized pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic study of docetaxel: dosing based on body-surface area compared with individualized dosing based on cytochrome P450 activity estimated using a urinary metabolite of exogenous cortisol. J Clin Oncol 2005 Feb 20; 23(6): 1061–9

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  25. European Medicines Agency. Taxotere: summary of product characteristics [online]. Available from URL: http://www.emea.eu.int [Accessed 2005 Aug 8]

  26. Esposito M, Venturini M, Vannozzi MO, et al. Comparative effects of paclitaxel and docetaxel on the metabolism and pharmacokinetics of epirubicin in breast cancer patients. J Clin Oncol 1999; 17(4): 1132–40

    Google Scholar 

  27. Jones SE, Erban J, Overmoyer B, et al. Randomised phase III study of docetaxel compared with paclitaxel in metastatic breast cancer. J Clin Oncol 2005 Aug 20; 23(24): 5542–51

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  28. Bonneterre J, Roche H, Monnier A, et al. Docetaxel vs 5-fluorouracil plus vinorelbine in metastatic breast cancer after anthracycline therapy failure. Br J Cancer 2002 Nov 18; 87(11): 1210–5

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  29. Nabholtz J-M, Senn HJ, Bezwoda WR, et al. Prospective randomized trial of docetaxel versus mitomycin plus vinblastine in patients with metastatic breast cancer progressing despite previous anthracycline-containing chemotherapy. J Clin Oncol 1999; 17: 1413–24

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  30. Sjöström J, Blomqvist C, Mouridsen H, et al. Docetaxel compared with sequential methotrexate and 5-fluorouracil in patients with advanced breast cancer after anthracycline failure: a randomised phase III study with crossover on progression by the Scandinavian Breast Group. Eur J Cancer 1999; 35: 1194–201

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  31. Chan S, Friedrichs K, Noel D, et al. Prospective randomized trial of docetaxel versus doxorubicin in patients with metastatic breast cancer. J Clin Oncol 1999; 17: 2341–54

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  32. Schmidinger M, Budinsky AC, Wenzel C, et al. Docetaxel monotherapy in heavily pretreated metastatic breast cancer: a multicenter, community-based feasibility trial. Cancer Chemother Pharmacol 2001 Jan; 47: 57–62

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  33. Pieńkowski T, Jagiello-Gruszfeld A, Glinka-Malasnicka E, et al. Docetaxel as a second line treatment in patients with metastatic breast cancer after previous chemotherapy regimen including anthracyclines: a non-randomised multicenter study. Nowotwory 2000; 50 Suppl. 2: 15–22

    Google Scholar 

  34. Alexandre J, Bleuzen P, Bonneterre J, et al. Factors predicting for efficacy and safety of docetaxel in a compassionate-use cohort of 825 heavily pretreated advanced breast cancer patients. J Clin Oncol 2000 Feb; 18: 562–73

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  35. Kruijtzer CMF, Verweij J, Schellens JHM, et al. Docetaxel in 253 previously treated patients with progressive locally advanced or metastatic breast cancer: results of a compassionate use program in The Netherlands. Anticancer Drugs 2000 Apr; 11(4): 249–55

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  36. O’Brien MER, Leonard RC, Barrett-Lee PJ, et al. Docetaxel in the community setting: an analysis of 377 breast cancer patients treated with docetaxel (Taxotere) in the UK. Ann Oncol 1999; 10: 205–10

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  37. Hakamies-Blomqvist L, Luoma ML, Sjöström J, et al. Quality of life in patients with metastatic breast cancer receiving either docetaxel or sequential methotrexate and 5-fluorouracil: a multicentre randomised phase III trial by the Scandinavian Breast Group. Eur J Cancer 2000 Jul; 36: 1411–7

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  38. Twelves CJ, Miles DW, Hall A. Quality of life in women with advanced breast cancer treated with docetaxel. Clin Breast Cancer 2004 Aug; 5(3): 216–22; discussion 223-4

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  39. Alba E, Martin M, Ramos M, et al. Multicenter randomized trial comparing sequential with concomitant administration of doxorubicin and docetaxel as first-line treatment of metastatic breast cancer: a Spanish Breast Cancer Research Group (GEI-CAM-9903) phase III study. J Clin Oncol 2004 Jul 1; 22(13): 2587–93

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  40. Blohmer JU, Hauschild M, Hilfrich J, et al. Safety and efficacy of first-line epirubicin-docetaxel versus epirubicin-cyclophosphamide: a multicenter randomized phase III trial in metastatic breast cancer [abstract no. 627]. Proc Am Soc Clin Oncol 2004 Jun 5; 23: 33

    Google Scholar 

  41. Mackey JR, Paterson A, Dirix LY, et al. Final results of the phase III randomized trial comparing docetaxel, doxorubicin and cyclophosphamide to FAC as first line chemotherapy for patients with metastatic breast cancer [abstract no. 137]. Proc Am Soc Clin Oncol 2002 May; 21 (Pt 1): 35a

    Google Scholar 

  42. Nabholtz J-M, Falkson C, Campos D, et al. Docetaxel and doxorubicin compared with doxorubicin and cyclophosphamide as first-line chemotherapy for metastatic breast cancer: results of a randomized, multicenter, phase III trial. J Clin Oncol 2003 Mar 15; 21: 968–75

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  43. Chan S, Romieu G, Huober J, et al. Gemcitabine plus docetaxel versus capecitabine plus docetaxel for anthracycline-pretreated metastatic breast cancer patients: results of a European phase III study [abstract no. 581]. J Clin Oncol 2005 Jan 1; 23 (16 Suppl. Pt 1): 24S

    Google Scholar 

  44. O’Shaughnessy J, Miles D, Vukelja S, et al. Superior survival with capecitabine plus docetaxel combination therapy in anthracycline-pretreated patients with advanced breast cancer: phase III trial results. J Clin Oncol 2002 Jun 15; 20: 2812–23

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  45. Reyes S, Torrecillas L, Acosta A, et al. Capecitabine and taxanes: combination versus sequential therapy in anthracycline-pretreated metastatic breast cancer (MBC): findings from the Mexican Oncology Study Group (MOSG) phase III trial [abstract no. 447]. EJC Suppl Sep 2003; 1(5): S136

    Google Scholar 

  46. Maisano R, Mare M, Zavettieri M, et al. Is weekly docetaxel an active and gentle chemotherapy in the treatment of metastatic breast cancer? Anticancer Res 2003 Mar–Apr; 23: 1923–6

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  47. Tabernero J, Climent MA, Lluch A, et al. A multicentre, randomised phase II study of weekly or 3-weekly docetaxel in patients with metastatic breast cancer. Ann Oncol 2004 Sep; 15(9): 1358–65

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  48. Hainsworth JD, Burris IIIHA, Yardley DA, et al. Weekly docetaxel in the treatment of elderly patients with advanced breast cancer: a Minnie Pearl Cancer Research Network phase II trial. J Clin Oncol 2001 Aug 1; 19: 3500–5

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  49. Stemmler HJ, Gutschow K, Sommer H, et al. Weekly docetaxel (Taxotere) in patients with metastatic breast cancer. Ann Oncol 2001 Oct 10; 12: 1393–8

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  50. Stemmler J, Mair W, Stauch M, et al. High efficacy and low toxicity of weekly docetaxel given as first-line treatment for metastatic breast cancer. Oncology 2005; 68: 71–8

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  51. Ramos M, Gonzalez-Ageitos A, Amenedo M, et al. Weekly docetaxel as second-line therapy for patients with advanced breast cancer resistant to previous anthracycline treatment. J Chemother 2003 Apr; 15(2): 192–7

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  52. Maisano R, Mare M, Caristi N, et al. A modified weekly docetaxel schedule as first-line chemotherapy in elderly metastatic breast cancer: a safety study. J Chemother 2005 Apr; 17(2): 242–6

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  53. D’hondt R, Paridaens R, Wildiers H, et al. Safety and efficacy of weekly docetaxel in frail and/or elderly patients with metastatic breast cancer: a phase II study. Anticancer Drugs 2004 Apr; 15(4): 341–6

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  54. Kuroi K, Bando H, Saji S, et al. Protracted administration of weekly docetaxel in metastatic breast cancer. Oncol Rep 2003 Sep–Oct; 10(5): 1479–84

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  55. Mey U, Gorschluter M, Ziske C, et al. Weekly docetaxel in patients with pretreated metastatic breast cancer: a phase II trial. Anticancer Drugs 2003 Mar; 14: 233–8

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  56. Massacesi C, Marcucci F, Boccetti T, et al. Low dose-intensity docetaxel in the treatment of pre-treated elderly patients with metastatic breast cancer. J Exp Clin Cancer Res 2005 Mar; 24(1): 43–8

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  57. Gómez-Bernal A, Cruz JJ, Olaverri A, et al. Biweekly docetaxel and vinorelbine with granulocyte colony-stimulating factor support for patients with anthracycline-resistant metastatic breast cancer. Anticancer Drugs 2005 Jan; 16(1): 77–82

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  58. Cals L, Nouyrigat P, Valenza B, et al. Weekly combination of docetaxel and vinorelbine in metastatic breast cancer: a phase I/II study. Oncology 2004; 67 (3–4): 257–61

    Article  Google Scholar 

  59. Mayordomo JI, Milla A, Morales S, et al. Biweekly docetaxel and vinorelbine as first-line chemotherapy in metastatic breast cancer. Clin Breast Cancer 2004 Jun; 5(2): 131–5

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  60. Rodriguez J, Calvo E, Cortes J, et al. Docetaxel plus vinorelbine as salvage chemotherapy in advanced breast cancer: a phase II study. Breast Cancer Res Treat 2002 Nov; 76: 47–56

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  61. Marty M, Cognetti F, Maraninchi D, et al. Randomised phase II trial of the efficacy and safety of trastuzumab combined with docetaxel in patients with human epidermal growth factor receptor 2-positive metastatic breast cancer administered as first-line treatment: the M77001 study group. J Clin Oncol 2005 Jul 1; 23(19): 4265–4274

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  62. Lorenzo I, Constenla M, Palacios P, et al. Docetaxel as singleagent treatment in elderly patients with advanced breast cancer. Clin Drug Invest 2005; 25(4): 249–56

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  63. Lin YC, Chang HK, Wang CH, et al. Single-agent docetaxel in metastatic breast cancer patients pre-treated with anthracyclines and paclitaxel: partial cross-resistance between paclitaxel and docetaxel. Anticancer Drugs 2000 Sep; 11: 617–21

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  64. Valero V, Jones SE, Von Hoff DD, et al. A phase II study of docetaxel in patients with paclitaxel-resistant metastatic breast cancer. J Clin Oncol 1998; 16(10): 3362–8

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  65. Miles D, Vukelja S, Moiseyenko V, et al. Survival benefit with capecitabine/docetaxel versus docetaxel alone: analysis of therapy in a randomised phase III trial. Clin Breast Cancer 2004; 5(4): 273–8

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  66. Poikonen P, Sjostrom J, Klaar S, et al. Skin toxicity as a risk factor for major infections in breast cancer patients treated with docetaxel. Acta Oncol 2004; 43(2): 190–5

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  67. Brain EGC, Bachelot T, Serin D, et al. Life-threatening sepsis associated with adjuvant doxorubicin plus docetaxel for intermediate-risk breast cancer. JAMA 2005 May 18; 293(19): 2367–71

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  68. Ghersi D, Wilcken N, Simes J, et al. Taxane containing regimens for metastatic breast cancer. Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2005 Apr 18; (2): CD003366

  69. Gligorov J, Lotz JP. Preclinical pharmacology of the taxanes: implications of the differences. Oncologist 2004; 9 Suppl. 2: 3–8

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  70. Kearns CM. Pharmacokinetics of the taxanes. Pharmacotherapy 1997; 17 (5 Pt 2): 105S–9S

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  71. Bristol-Myers Squibb Company. Taxol (paclitaxel) injection: prescribing information. Princeton (NJ): Bristol-Myers Squibb Company, 2003 Mar

    Google Scholar 

  72. Paridaens R, Biganzoli L, Bruning P, et al. Paclitaxel versus doxorubicin as first-line single-agent chemotherapy for metastatic breast cancer: a European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer randomized study with cross-over. J Clin Oncol 2000 Feb; 18(4): 724–33

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  73. Smith RE, Brown AM, Mamounas EP, et al. Randomized trial of 3-hour versus 24-hour infusion of high-dose paclitaxel in patients with metastatic or locally advanced breast cancer: National Surgical Adjuvant Breast and Bowel Project Protocol B-2. J Clin Oncol 1999 Nov; 17(11): 3403–11

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  74. Sledge GW, Neuberg D, Bernardo P, et al. Phase III trial of doxorubicin, paclitaxel, and the combination of doxorubicin and paclitaxel as front-line chemotherapy for metastatic breast cancer: an intergroup trial (El 193). J Clin Oncol 2003 Feb 15; 21(4): 588–92

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  75. Winer EP, Berry DA, Woolf S, et al. Failure of higher-dose paclitaxel to improve outcome in patients with metastatic breast cancer: cancer and leukemia group B trial 9342. J Clin Oncol 2004 Jun 1; 22(11): 2061–8

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  76. Crown J, O’Leary M, Ooi W-S. Docetaxel and paclitaxel in the treatment of breast cancer: a review of clinical experience. Oncologist 2004; 9 Suppl. 2: 24–32

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  77. Sparano JA. Doxorubicin/taxane combinations: cardiac toxicity and pharmacokinetics. Semin Oncol 1999; 26 (3 Suppl. 9): 14–9

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

At the request of the journal, Aventis Pharmaceuticals Inc. provided a non-binding review of this article.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Adis International Limited, 41 Centorian Drive, Private Bag 65901, Mairangi Bay, Auckland, 1311, New Zealand

    Katherine A. Lyseng-Williamson & Caroline Fenton

Authors
  1. Katherine A. Lyseng-Williamson
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Caroline Fenton
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Katherine A. Lyseng-Williamson.

Additional information

Various sections of the manuscript reviewed by: E. Alba, Servicio de Oncologia Medica, Hospital Clinico Universitario de Malaga Campus, Malaga, Spain; J. Alexandre, Unité d’Oncologie Médicale, Service de Médecine Interne, Hôpital Cochin, Paris, France; H.-K. Chang, Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Hematology/Oncology, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan; E. Cvitkovic, Cvitkovic & Associés Consultants, Le Kremlin Bicêtre, France; A. Gennari, Department of Oncology, Division of Medical Oncology, Santa Chiara University Hospital, Pisa, Italy; D. Köberle, Department Oncology/Hematology, Kantonsspital St Gallen, St Gallen, Switzerland; J.-P. Lotz, Unité d’Oncologie Médicale, Hôpital Tenon, Paris, France; B. Overmoyer, Northwest Connecticut Oncology/Hematology Associates, Torrington, Connecticut, USA.

Data Selection

Sources: Medical literature published in any language since 1980 on ‘docetaxel’, identified using MEDLINE and EMBASE, supplemented by AdisBase (a proprietary database of Adis International). Additional references were identified from the reference lists of published articles. Bibliographical information, including contributory unpublished data, was also requested from the company developing the drug.

Search strategy: MEDLINE search terms were ‘docetaxel’ and ‘metastatic’ or ‘neoplasm metastasis’ or ‘advanced’ and ‘breast’ or ‘breast neoplasms’. EMBASE search terms were ‘docetaxel’ and ‘metastasis’ or ‘metastatic’ or ‘advanced’ and ‘breast cancer’’. AdisBase search terms were ‘docetaxel’ and ‘metastatic’ or ‘advanced’ and ‘breast-cancer’. Searches were last updated 13 October 2005.

Selection: Studies in patients with metastatic breast cancer who received docetaxel. Inclusion of studies was based mainly on the methods section of the trials. When available, large, well controlled trials with appropriate statistical methodology were preferred. Relevant pharmacodynamic and pharmacokinetic data are also included.

Index terms: Breast cancer, docetaxel, pharmacodynamics, pharmacokinetics, therapeutic use, tolerability.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Lyseng-Williamson, K.A., Fenton, C. Docetaxel. Drugs 65, 2513–2531 (2005). https://doi.org/10.2165/00003495-200565170-00007

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.2165/00003495-200565170-00007

Keywords

Search

Navigation