US Resident
+ Font size - | Print Print | Email to a Friend Email to a Friend |
Skip Navigation Links > Home > Oncology > Dosage Administration
Learn more about The PACT+ SM Program.
Keep dosing at your fingertips

Pre-med sheets for Breast, Lung, Prostate, Gastric, and Head and Neck Cancer.

Dosage and Administration

This section provides dosage and administration guidelines for Taxotere® (docetaxel) treatment in breast cancer, non–small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC), androgen-independent (hormone-refractory) metastatic prostate cancer (AIPC), and gastric cancer patients.

Below you will find specific dose and schedule information for Taxotere® treatment regimens, according to tumor type. For details on Taxotere® dosing adjustments, preparation and handling, be sure to visit the following pages in this section:


Dose and Schedule1

Tumor Type Regimen* Schedule Additional Information
Locally advanced or metastatic breast cancer after failure of prior chemotherapy Taxotere® 60 mg/m2 to 100 mg/m2 1-hour intravenous (I.V.) infusion Every 3 weeks The recommended regimen is oral dexamethasone 16 mg per day (e.g., 8 mg BID) for 3 days starting 1 day prior to TAXOTERE® administration.
Adjuvant treatment of operable, node-positive breast cancer Taxotere® 75 mg/m2 1-hour I.V. infusion given 1 hour after doxorubicin 50 mg/m2 and cyclophosphamide 500 mg/m2 Every 3 weeks for 6 cycles Prophylactic granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) may be used to help mitigate the risk of hematological toxicities.

The recommended regimen is oral dexamethasone 16 mg per day (e.g., 8 mg BID) for 3 days starting 1 day prior to TAXOTERE® administration
Unresectable, locally advanced or metastatic NSCLC chemotherapy naive patients Taxotere® 75 mg/m2 1-hour I.V. infusion immediately followed by cisplatin 75 mg/m2 30- to 60-minute I.V. infusion Every 3 weeks The recommended regimen is oral dexamethasone 16 mg per day (e.g., 8 mg BID) for 3 days starting 1 day prior to TAXOTERE® administration
Locally advanced or metastatic NSCLC after failure of prior platinum-based chemotherapy Taxotere® 75 mg/m2 1-hour I.V. infusion Every 3 weeks In randomized controlled trials of NSCLC patients previously treated with chemotherapy, a dose of 100 mg/m2 was associated with increased hematologic toxicity, infection and treatment-related mortality.

The recommended regimen is oral dexamethasone 16 mg per day (e.g., 8 mg BID) for 3 days starting 1 day prior to TAXOTERE® administration
AIPC Taxotere® 75 mg/m2 1-hour I.V. infusion with prednisone 5 mg po bid continuously Every 3 weeks Given the concurrent use of prednisone, the recommended premedication regimen is oral dexamethasone 8 mg at 12 hours, 3 hours and 1 hour before the Taxotere infusion.
Advanced gastric adenocarcinoma, including adenocarcinoma of the gastroesophageal junction   Taxotere® 75 mg/m2 1-hour I.V. infusion, followed by cisplatin 75 mg/m2 1- to 3-hour I.V. infusion (both on day 1 only), followed by 5-fluorouracil 750 mg/m2 per day given as a 24-hour continuous I.V. infusion for 5 days, starting at the end of cisplatin infusion Every 3 weeks Patients must receive premedication with antiemetics and appropriate hydration for cisplatin administration.

G-CSF is recommended during the second and/or subsequent cycles in case of febrile neutropenia, documented infection with neutropenia, or neutropenia lasting more than 7 days.

The recommended regimen is oral dexamethasone 16 mg per day (e.g., 8 mg BID) for 3 days starting 1 day prior to TAXOTERE® administration
Inoperable, locally advanced squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (SCCHN)  Taxotere® 75 mg/m2 1-hour I.V. infusion, followed by cisplatin 75 mg/m2 1 hour I.V. infusion (on day 1 only), followed by 5-fluorouracil 750 mg/m2 per day given as a 24-hour continuous I.V. infusion for 5 days, starting at the end of cisplatin infusion. Every 3 weeks for 4 cycles Patients must receive premedication with antiemetics and appropriate hydration prior to and after cisplatin administration.

G-CSF is recommended during the second and/or subsequent cycles in case of febrile neutropenia, documented infection with neutropenia, or neutropenia lasting more than 7 days.

Given the concurrent use of prednisone, the recommended premedication regimen is oral dexamethasone 8 mg at 12 hours, 3 hours and 1 hour before the Taxotere infusion.

* All patients treated with Taxotere® should be premedicated with oral corticosteroids, such as dexamethasone 16 mg per day (e.g., 8 mg po bid), for 3 days starting 1 day prior to Taxotere® administration to reduce the incidence and severity of fluid retention as well as the severity of hypersensitivity reactions (see BOXED WARNING, and PRECAUTIONS sections of the Taxotere® prescribing information).

References

  1. Taxotere® Prescribing Information. Bridgewater, NJ: sanofi-aventis U.S. LLC; November 2007.
Prescribing Information | Site Map | Terms of Use | Privacy Policy | Contact Us
© 2002- 2008 sanofi-aventis U.S. LLC. All rights reserved.
Legal Disclaimer Information and Privacy Policy
Questions or Comments? Click here to contact us.
This site intended for use by U.S. residents only.
US.DOC.07.07.079  Last update:  March 2008
WARNING
  • Taxotere® should be administered only under the supervision of a qualified physician experienced in the use of antineoplastic agents. Appropriate management of complications is possible only when adequate diagnostic and treatment facilities are readily available
  • The incidence of treatment-related mortality associated with Taxotere® therapy is increased in patients with abnormal liver function, in patients receiving higher doses, and in patients with non-small cell lung carcinoma and a history of prior treatment with platinum-based chemotherapy who receive Taxotere® as a single agent at a dose of 100 mg/m2 (see WARNINGS section of the prescribing information)
  • Taxotere® should generally not be given to patients with bilirubin > upper limit of normal (ULN), or to patients with serum glutamic-oxaloacetic transferase (SGOT) and/or serum glutamic-pyruvic transferase (SGPT) > 1.5 X ULN concomitant with alkaline phosphatase > 2.5 X ULN
    • Patients with elevations of bilirubin or abnormalities of transaminase concurrent with alkaline phosphatase are at increased risk for the development of grade 4 neutropenia, febrile neutropenia, infections, severe thrombocytopenia, severe stomatitis, severe skin toxicity, and toxic death
    • Patients with isolated elevations of transaminase > 1.5 X ULN also had a higher rate of febrile neutropenia grade 4 but did not have an increased incidence of toxic death
    • Bilirubin, SGOT or SGPT, and alkaline phosphatase values should be obtained prior to each cycle of Taxotere® therapy and reviewed by the treating physician
  • Taxotere® therapy should not be given to patients with neutrophil counts of < 1500 cells/mm3
    • In order to monitor the occurrence of neutropenia, which may be severe and result in infection, frequent blood-cell counts should be performed on all patients receiving Taxotere®
  • Severe hypersensitivity reactions characterized by generalized rash/erythema, hypotension and/or bronchospasm, or very rarely fatal anaphylaxis, have been reported in patients who received the recommended 3-day dexamethasone premedication
    • Patients should be observed closely for hypersensitivity reactions, especially during the first and second infusions
  • Taxotere® must not be given to patients who have a history of severe hypersensitivity reactions to Taxotere® or to other drugs formulated with polysorbate 80
    • All patients should be premedicated with oral corticosteroids such as dexamethasone (see DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION section of the prescribing information)
  • Severe fluid retention occurred in 6.5% (6/92) of patients despite use of a 3-day dexamethasone premedication regimen. It was characterized by one or more of the following events: poorly tolerated peripheral edema, generalized edema, pleural effusion requiring urgent drainage, dyspnea at rest, cardiac tamponade, or pronounced abdominal distention (due to ascites) (see PRECAUTIONS section of the prescribing information)

Additional Warnings
  • Treatment-related acute myeloid leukemia (AML) or myelodysplasia has occurred in patients given anthracyclines and/or cyclophosphamide, including use with Taxotere® in adjuvant therapy of breast cancer

  • Taxotere® can cause fetal harm when administered to pregnant women. Women of childbearing potential should be advised to avoid becoming pregnant during therapy with Taxotere®


    • Precautions
  • Localized erythema of the extremities with edema followed by desquamation has been observed

    • — In case of severe skin toxicity, an adjustment in dosage is recommended (see DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION section of the prescribing information)
  • Severe neurosensory symptoms (paresthesia, dysesthesia, pain) were observed in 5.5% (53/965) of metastatic breast cancer patients, and resulted in treatment discontinuation in 6.1%

    • — When these symptoms occur, dosage must be adjusted; if symptoms persist, treatment should be discontinued (see DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION section of the prescribing information)
  • Severe asthenia was reported in 14.9% (144/965) of metastatic breast cancer patients, but led to treatment discontinuation in only 1.8%

    • — Symptoms of fatigue and weakness may last a few days up to several weeks and may be associated with deterioration of performance status in patients with progressive disease
  • In patients treated with TCF for gastric cancer, the incidence of serious adverse events was higher in patients >65 years than in younger patients. Adverse events (all grades) occurring at rates >10% higher in elderly patients included lethargy, stomatitis, diarrhea, dizziness, edema, and febrile neutropenia/neutropenic infection.

    • Please see important safety information and full prescribing information, including boxed WARNING.

    Taxotere Indications

    Breast Cancer
    TAXOTERE® is indicated for the treatment of patients with locally advanced or metastatic breast cancer after failure of prior chemotherapy
    TAXOTERE® in combination with doxorubicin and cyclophosphamide is indicated for the adjuvant treatment of patients with operable node-positive breast cancer

    Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer
    TAXOTERE®, as a single agent, is indicated for the treatment of patients with locally advanced or metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) after failure of prior platinum-based chemotherapy
    TAXOTERE® in combination with cisplatin is indicated for the treatment of patients with unresectable, locally advanced or metastatic NSCLC who have not previously received chemotherapy for this condition.

    Prostate Cancer
    TAXOTERE® in combination with prednisone is indicated for the treatment of patients with androgen independent (hormone refractory) metastatic prostate cancer.

    Gastric Cancer
    TAXOTERE® in combination with cisplatin and flouroucil is indicated for the treatment of patients with advanced gastric adenocercinoma, including adenocarcinoma of the gastroesophageal junction, who have not received prior chemotherapy for advanced disease.

    Head and neck Cancer
    TAXOTERE® in combination with cisplatin and flourouracil is indicated for the induction treatment of patients with locally advanced squamous cell cercinoma of the head and neck (SCCHN).