What is "docetaxel"

n. A particular drug used in chemotherapy.

Docetaxel (XT) sold as Taxotere or Docecad, is a well-established anti-mitotic chemotherapy medication that works by interfering with cell division. Docetaxel is approved by the FDA for treatment of locally advanced or metastatic breast cancer, head and neck cancer, gastric cancer, hormone-refractory prostate cancer and non small-cell lung cancer. Docetaxel can be used as a single agent or in combination with other chemotherapeutic drugs as indicated depending on specific cancer type and stage.

Docetaxel is a member of the taxane drug class, which also includes the chemotherapeutic medication paclitaxel. Although docetaxel remains twice as potent as paclitaxel (due to docetaxel’s effect on the centrosome of the mitotic spindle), the two taxanes have been observed to have comparable efficacy. Several recent articles have found "no evidence that regimens containing docetaxel yield greater benefits than those including paclitaxel." While efficacy between the two agents has been observed to be equivalent, paclitaxel may cause fewer side effects. Additionally, it has been noted that docetaxel is prone to cellular drug resistance via a variety of different mechanisms.

The optimal dose scheduling of taxanes remains unconfirmed, but most studies find significant mortality benefit following either a three-week or a one-week administration schedule. While a 2010 article in Current Clinical Pharmacology states, "weekly administration has emerged as the optimal schedule," the official docetaxel package insert recommends administration every three weeks. Important toxicities include neutropenia, febrile neutropenia and neurosensory disturbances. Such toxicities have been well documented in Phase II and Phase III clinical trials and can be anticipated and subsequently managed.

It is on the WHO Model List of Essential Medicines, the most important medications needed in a basic health system. Docetaxel is marketed worldwide under the name Taxotere by Sanofi-Aventis as well as Docefrez by Sun Pharma Global and Zytax by Zydus. Annual sales of Taxotere in 2010 were Euro 2.122 billion ($US 3.1 billion). The patent expired in 2010.