DOCETAXEL

• Advanced or metastatic breast cancer
• Non-small cell lung cancer (after failure on other cytotoxic agents)
• Hormone-resistant prostate cancer (in combination with prednisolone)
• Cardiac surgery Gastric adenocarcinoma
• Head and neck cancer
• Operable node-positive and node-negative breast cancer

Administer as a one-hour infusion every 3 weeks Dose and duration depend on the patient, the type of cancer being treatment, neutrophil count and concurrent cytotoxic therapy.

Pre-treat with oral dexamethasone as below

• Hypersensitivity to docetaxel
• Patients with neutrophil count < 1,500 cells/mm³
• Severe liver impairment

• Neutropenia, thrombocytopenia, anaemia
• Hypersensitivity reactions
• Localised skin erythema of hands and feet
• Infections
• Dyspnoea
• Alopecia, nail disorders
• Nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, stomatitis, constipation
• Weakness, lethargy, pain
• Hypotension, hypertension, haemorrhage, fluid retention, arrhythmia
• Gastrointestinal haemorrhage, abdominal pain, anorexia

• CYP450 enzyme inhibitors e.g. ketoconazole, itraconazole, clarithromycin (increased risk of adverse reactions)

• Do not use

• Discontinue breastfeeding

• After reconstitution, store at 2−8°C

• Pre-treatment with oral dexamethasone or prednisolone is recommended for reducing fluid retention and hyper sensitivity reactions
• Men and women have to use effective contraception during and after treatment with docetaxel
• Anticancer medicines should only be handled by health workers trained and experienced in use of cytotoxic medicines