Your session is about to expire
What is Docetaxel
DocetaxelThe Generic name of this drug
Treatment SummaryDocetaxel is a chemotherapy drug used to treat certain types of cancer, such as breast, ovarian, and non-small cell lung cancer. It works by blocking the growth of cancer cells by binding to a protein in them called tubulin.
Taxotereis the brand name
Docetaxel Overview & Background
Brand Name
Generic Name
First FDA Approval
How many FDA approvals?
Taxotere
Docetaxel
2008
97
Approved as Treatment by the FDA
Docetaxel, also known as Taxotere, is approved by the FDA for 12 uses such as Advance Directives and Metastatic Hormone-Refractory Prostate Cancer .Advance Directives
Metastatic Hormone-Refractory Prostate Cancer
Used to treat refractory, metastatic hormone-refractory Prostate cancer in combination with Prednisone
Neoplasm Metastasis
Malignant Neoplasms
Used to treat Node Positive Breast Cancer in combination with Cyclophosphamide
Metastatic Breast Cancer
Advance Directives
Used to treat advanced untreated gastric adenocarcinoma in combination with Cisplatin
metastatic untreated non small cell lung cancer
Used to treat metastatic untreated non small cell lung cancer in combination with Cisplatin
Advance Directives
Used to treat locally advanced Squamous cell carcinoma of head and neck in combination with Cisplatin
Advance Directives
Used to treat locally advanced untreated non small cell lung cancer in combination with Cisplatin
Non-Small Cell Lung Carcinoma
Squamous Cell Carcinoma of Head and Neck
BRCA1 gene
Effectiveness
How Docetaxel Affects PatientsDocetaxel is a cancer-fighting drug that helps stop cancer cells from growing. It works by forming a stable network of microtubules in the cells, which stops them from reorganizing and performing their normal functions. Docetaxel also causes abnormal clusters of microtubules to form during cell division, which further restricts the cancer cells' growth.
How Docetaxel works in the bodyDocetaxel stops cells from functioning properly by making the part of the cell that helps it move, called microtubules, stay in one place. Docetaxel binds to the parts of the microtubules called tubulin, making them unable to shorten or lengthen. This makes it difficult for the cell to move things around, like chromosomes during mitosis. Additionally, docetaxel can make cancer cells die by binding to a protein that stops apoptosis, called Bcl-2.
When to interrupt dosage
The advised dose of Docetaxel depends upon the diagnosed condition, including Esophageal Cancer, Neoplasm Metastasis and Non-Small Cell Lung Carcinoma. The quantity of dosage fluctuates, depending on the approach of administration (e.g. Intravenous or Injection, solution, concentrate - Intravenous) as mentioned in the table below.Condition
Dosage
Administration
Advance Directives
20.0 mg/mL, 80.0 mg/mL, , 10.0 mg/mL, 80.0 mg, 20.0 mg, 160.0 mg/mL, 180.0 mg/mL, 120.0 mg/mL, 200.0 mg/mL, 140.0 mg/mL, 40.0 mg/mL, 16.0 mg/mL
Intravenous, , Injection, solution, concentrate - Intravenous, Injection, solution, concentrate, Injection, solution, Injection, solution - Intravenous, Kit, Injection, Injection - Intravenous, Solution, Solution - Intravenous, Kit; Solution, Kit; Solution - Intravenous
BRCA1 gene
20.0 mg/mL, 80.0 mg/mL, , 10.0 mg/mL, 80.0 mg, 20.0 mg, 160.0 mg/mL, 180.0 mg/mL, 120.0 mg/mL, 200.0 mg/mL, 140.0 mg/mL, 40.0 mg/mL, 16.0 mg/mL
Intravenous, , Injection, solution, concentrate - Intravenous, Injection, solution, concentrate, Injection, solution, Injection, solution - Intravenous, Kit, Injection, Injection - Intravenous, Solution, Solution - Intravenous, Kit; Solution, Kit; Solution - Intravenous
Advance Directives
20.0 mg/mL, 80.0 mg/mL, , 10.0 mg/mL, 80.0 mg, 20.0 mg, 160.0 mg/mL, 180.0 mg/mL, 120.0 mg/mL, 200.0 mg/mL, 140.0 mg/mL, 40.0 mg/mL, 16.0 mg/mL
Intravenous, , Injection, solution, concentrate - Intravenous, Injection, solution, concentrate, Injection, solution, Injection, solution - Intravenous, Kit, Injection, Injection - Intravenous, Solution, Solution - Intravenous, Kit; Solution, Kit; Solution - Intravenous
Metastatic Bladder Cancer
20.0 mg/mL, 80.0 mg/mL, , 10.0 mg/mL, 80.0 mg, 20.0 mg, 160.0 mg/mL, 180.0 mg/mL, 120.0 mg/mL, 200.0 mg/mL, 140.0 mg/mL, 40.0 mg/mL, 16.0 mg/mL
Intravenous, , Injection, solution, concentrate - Intravenous, Injection, solution, concentrate, Injection, solution, Injection, solution - Intravenous, Kit, Injection, Injection - Intravenous, Solution, Solution - Intravenous, Kit; Solution, Kit; Solution - Intravenous
metastatic untreated non small cell lung cancer
20.0 mg/mL, 80.0 mg/mL, , 10.0 mg/mL, 80.0 mg, 20.0 mg, 160.0 mg/mL, 180.0 mg/mL, 120.0 mg/mL, 200.0 mg/mL, 140.0 mg/mL, 40.0 mg/mL, 16.0 mg/mL
Intravenous, , Injection, solution, concentrate - Intravenous, Injection, solution, concentrate, Injection, solution, Injection, solution - Intravenous, Kit, Injection, Injection - Intravenous, Solution, Solution - Intravenous, Kit; Solution, Kit; Solution - Intravenous
Non-Small Cell Lung Carcinoma
20.0 mg/mL, 80.0 mg/mL, , 10.0 mg/mL, 80.0 mg, 20.0 mg, 160.0 mg/mL, 180.0 mg/mL, 120.0 mg/mL, 200.0 mg/mL, 140.0 mg/mL, 40.0 mg/mL, 16.0 mg/mL
Intravenous, , Injection, solution, concentrate - Intravenous, Injection, solution, concentrate, Injection, solution, Injection, solution - Intravenous, Kit, Injection, Injection - Intravenous, Solution, Solution - Intravenous, Kit; Solution, Kit; Solution - Intravenous
Small Cell Lung Cancer
20.0 mg/mL, 80.0 mg/mL, , 10.0 mg/mL, 80.0 mg, 20.0 mg, 160.0 mg/mL, 180.0 mg/mL, 120.0 mg/mL, 200.0 mg/mL, 140.0 mg/mL, 40.0 mg/mL, 16.0 mg/mL
Intravenous, , Injection, solution, concentrate - Intravenous, Injection, solution, concentrate, Injection, solution, Injection, solution - Intravenous, Kit, Injection, Injection - Intravenous, Solution, Solution - Intravenous, Kit; Solution, Kit; Solution - Intravenous
Sarcoma
20.0 mg/mL, 80.0 mg/mL, , 10.0 mg/mL, 80.0 mg, 20.0 mg, 160.0 mg/mL, 180.0 mg/mL, 120.0 mg/mL, 200.0 mg/mL, 140.0 mg/mL, 40.0 mg/mL, 16.0 mg/mL
Intravenous, , Injection, solution, concentrate - Intravenous, Injection, solution, concentrate, Injection, solution, Injection, solution - Intravenous, Kit, Injection, Injection - Intravenous, Solution, Solution - Intravenous, Kit; Solution, Kit; Solution - Intravenous
Soft Tissue Sarcoma
20.0 mg/mL, 80.0 mg/mL, , 10.0 mg/mL, 80.0 mg, 20.0 mg, 160.0 mg/mL, 180.0 mg/mL, 120.0 mg/mL, 200.0 mg/mL, 140.0 mg/mL, 40.0 mg/mL, 16.0 mg/mL
Intravenous, , Injection, solution, concentrate - Intravenous, Injection, solution, concentrate, Injection, solution, Injection, solution - Intravenous, Kit, Injection, Injection - Intravenous, Solution, Solution - Intravenous, Kit; Solution, Kit; Solution - Intravenous
Metastatic Breast Cancer
20.0 mg/mL, 80.0 mg/mL, , 10.0 mg/mL, 80.0 mg, 20.0 mg, 160.0 mg/mL, 180.0 mg/mL, 120.0 mg/mL, 200.0 mg/mL, 140.0 mg/mL, 40.0 mg/mL, 16.0 mg/mL
Intravenous, , Injection, solution, concentrate - Intravenous, Injection, solution, concentrate, Injection, solution, Injection, solution - Intravenous, Kit, Injection, Injection - Intravenous, Solution, Solution - Intravenous, Kit; Solution, Kit; Solution - Intravenous
Neoplasm Metastasis
20.0 mg/mL, 80.0 mg/mL, , 10.0 mg/mL, 80.0 mg, 20.0 mg, 160.0 mg/mL, 180.0 mg/mL, 120.0 mg/mL, 200.0 mg/mL, 140.0 mg/mL, 40.0 mg/mL, 16.0 mg/mL
Intravenous, , Injection, solution, concentrate - Intravenous, Injection, solution, concentrate, Injection, solution, Injection, solution - Intravenous, Kit, Injection, Injection - Intravenous, Solution, Solution - Intravenous, Kit; Solution, Kit; Solution - Intravenous
Squamous Cell Carcinoma of Head and Neck
20.0 mg/mL, 80.0 mg/mL, , 10.0 mg/mL, 80.0 mg, 20.0 mg, 160.0 mg/mL, 180.0 mg/mL, 120.0 mg/mL, 200.0 mg/mL, 140.0 mg/mL, 40.0 mg/mL, 16.0 mg/mL
Intravenous, , Injection, solution, concentrate - Intravenous, Injection, solution, concentrate, Injection, solution, Injection, solution - Intravenous, Kit, Injection, Injection - Intravenous, Solution, Solution - Intravenous, Kit; Solution, Kit; Solution - Intravenous
Advance Directives
20.0 mg/mL, 80.0 mg/mL, , 10.0 mg/mL, 80.0 mg, 20.0 mg, 160.0 mg/mL, 180.0 mg/mL, 120.0 mg/mL, 200.0 mg/mL, 140.0 mg/mL, 40.0 mg/mL, 16.0 mg/mL
Intravenous, , Injection, solution, concentrate - Intravenous, Injection, solution, concentrate, Injection, solution, Injection, solution - Intravenous, Kit, Injection, Injection - Intravenous, Solution, Solution - Intravenous, Kit; Solution, Kit; Solution - Intravenous
Metastatic Hormone-Refractory Prostate Cancer
20.0 mg/mL, 80.0 mg/mL, , 10.0 mg/mL, 80.0 mg, 20.0 mg, 160.0 mg/mL, 180.0 mg/mL, 120.0 mg/mL, 200.0 mg/mL, 140.0 mg/mL, 40.0 mg/mL, 16.0 mg/mL
Intravenous, , Injection, solution, concentrate - Intravenous, Injection, solution, concentrate, Injection, solution, Injection, solution - Intravenous, Kit, Injection, Injection - Intravenous, Solution, Solution - Intravenous, Kit; Solution, Kit; Solution - Intravenous
Advance Directives
20.0 mg/mL, 80.0 mg/mL, , 10.0 mg/mL, 80.0 mg, 20.0 mg, 160.0 mg/mL, 180.0 mg/mL, 120.0 mg/mL, 200.0 mg/mL, 140.0 mg/mL, 40.0 mg/mL, 16.0 mg/mL
Intravenous, , Injection, solution, concentrate - Intravenous, Injection, solution, concentrate, Injection, solution, Injection, solution - Intravenous, Kit, Injection, Injection - Intravenous, Solution, Solution - Intravenous, Kit; Solution, Kit; Solution - Intravenous
Malignant Neoplasms
20.0 mg/mL, 80.0 mg/mL, , 10.0 mg/mL, 80.0 mg, 20.0 mg, 160.0 mg/mL, 180.0 mg/mL, 120.0 mg/mL, 200.0 mg/mL, 140.0 mg/mL, 40.0 mg/mL, 16.0 mg/mL
Intravenous, , Injection, solution, concentrate - Intravenous, Injection, solution, concentrate, Injection, solution, Injection, solution - Intravenous, Kit, Injection, Injection - Intravenous, Solution, Solution - Intravenous, Kit; Solution, Kit; Solution - Intravenous
Warnings
Docetaxel ContraindicationsCondition
Risk Level
Notes
neutrophil count <1500 cells/mm3
Do Not Combine
Common Docetaxel Drug Interactions
Drug Name
Risk Level
Description
2-Methoxyethanol
Major
The risk or severity of adverse effects can be increased when Docetaxel is combined with 2-Methoxyethanol.
9-(N-methyl-L-isoleucine)-cyclosporin A
Major
The risk or severity of adverse effects can be increased when Docetaxel is combined with 9-(N-methyl-L-isoleucine)-cyclosporin A.
Abemaciclib
Major
The metabolism of Abemaciclib can be decreased when combined with Docetaxel.
Abetimus
Major
The risk or severity of adverse effects can be increased when Docetaxel is combined with Abetimus.
Acteoside
Major
The risk or severity of adverse effects can be increased when Docetaxel is combined with Acteoside.
Docetaxel Toxicity & Overdose RiskThe lowest toxic dose of this drug in rats is greater than 2000 mg/kg. Symptoms of overdose can include a decrease in the number of white blood cells, nerve damage, and inflammation of the lining of the digestive tract. In two cases of overdose, one patient received 150 mg/m2 and the other received 200 mg/m2 as 1-hour infusions. Both suffered from low white blood cell count, weakness, skin reactions, and pins and needles sensations. Thankfully they both recovered without any long-term effects.
Docetaxel Novel Uses: Which Conditions Have a Clinical Trial Featuring Docetaxel?
Currently, 378 active studies are evaluating the potential of Docetaxel to treat metastatic untreated non-small cell lung cancer, Sarcoma and Advance Directives.Condition
Clinical Trials
Trial Phases
Neoplasm Metastasis
1 Actively Recruiting
Phase 2
Metastatic Hormone-Refractory Prostate Cancer
87 Actively Recruiting
Phase 1, Phase 2, Not Applicable, Phase 3, Phase 4, Early Phase 1
Metastatic Breast Cancer
95 Actively Recruiting
Phase 2, Phase 1, Not Applicable, Phase 3, Phase 4, Early Phase 1
Small Cell Lung Cancer
62 Actively Recruiting
Phase 2, Phase 3, Phase 1, Not Applicable, Early Phase 1
Soft Tissue Sarcoma
67 Actively Recruiting
Phase 2, Phase 1, Not Applicable, Phase 3, Phase 4, Early Phase 1
Advance Directives
0 Actively Recruiting
Squamous Cell Carcinoma of Head and Neck
9 Actively Recruiting
Phase 1, Phase 2
metastatic untreated non small cell lung cancer
0 Actively Recruiting
Advance Directives
0 Actively Recruiting
Advance Directives
0 Actively Recruiting
Advance Directives
0 Actively Recruiting
BRCA1 gene
11 Actively Recruiting
Phase 2, Not Applicable, Phase 1, Phase 3, Early Phase 1
Sarcoma
1 Actively Recruiting
Phase 2
Metastatic Bladder Cancer
2 Actively Recruiting
Phase 2, Phase 1
Non-Small Cell Lung Carcinoma
0 Actively Recruiting
Malignant Neoplasms
1 Actively Recruiting
Not Applicable
Docetaxel Reviews: What are patients saying about Docetaxel?
5Patient Review
3/20/2010 Today was my first time using this treatment, and I thought it was great!
4.3Patient Review
8/7/2009 So far, this has been working well for me with no noticeable side effects like nausea or vomiting. I'm on my third treatment--taking it once a week--and also doing radiation therapy five days a week.
4Patient Review
9/12/2012 This treatment was successful in reducing the size of my tumors and the amount of pleural fluid in my lungs. I now have an improved quality of life and breath much better than before.
4Patient Review
11/29/2012 Taxatere was successful for me for three years, but my PSA levels began to rise again. I am now on docetaxel and this is my third treatment. I am hoping and praying that this will be successful for another three years.
2.7Patient Review
1/21/2010 I've been taking this medication for 25 months, and I'm starting to see serious adverse effects. These include issues with my taste buds, fatigue, skin bruising, and nails as well as recurrent cancer growth. I don't think the benefits are worth the risks anymore.
2Patient Review
1/13/2012 It caused my feet and hands to burn, and I lost my finger- and toenails.
2Patient Review
6/23/2010 The tumor has shrunk, but I now have immense muscle pain all over my body.
1.3Patient Review
12/16/2008 My mother was just diagnosed with stage 4 non small cell lung cancer a week ago after emergency surgery. She had no previous signs or symptoms of the disease.
Patient Q&A Section about docetaxel
These questions and answers are submitted by anonymous patients, and have not been verified by our internal team.What is the most common side effect of docetaxel?
"The two most common long-term side effects of docetaxel chemotherapy are sensory and motor peripheral neuropathy, which are fortunately much less common than with paclitaxel. Grade 3 and 4 neuropathy is only observed in less than 10% of patients receiving docetaxel therapy."
Answered by AI
What is the docetaxel used for?
"Docetaxel injection is used to treat patients with advanced or metastatic breast cancer who have previously received other cancer medicines that were ineffective."
Answered by AI
What is the success rate of docetaxel?
"Docetaxel combined with another antineoplastic resulted in a 20-54% objective response rate for chemotherapy-naive patients. Triple chemotherapy combinations resulted in a 51-60% response rate for patients."
Answered by AI
Is docetaxel a strong chemotherapy?
"Since docetaxel is a potent chemotherapeutic agent, it produces numerous side effects. The most common ones are nausea, vomiting, and hair loss."
Answered by AI