Biweekly docetaxel-containing chemotherapy may be the optimal schedule

Abstract

The dosing schedule of docetaxel may affect its clinical activity and toxicity profile. Although triweekly docetaxel has higher antitumor activity but more severe hematological toxicity, weekly docetaxel seems to have less activity or fewer adverse events. To evaluate the efficacy and toxicity of biweekly docetaxel and mitoxantrone in patients with advanced breast cancer, the regimen consisting of docetaxel (60 mg/m), and mitoxantrone (8 mg/m) was administered intravenously to 59 patients every 2 weeks. Most (54.2%) of the patients experienced objective responses. The median time to progression for the whole group was 6.8 months. The median time to progression for patients with complete or partial response was 10.3 months, but only 3.6 months for patients with stable or progressive disease (P<0.001). Grade III/IV adverse events of neutropenia, thrombocytopenia, anemia, febrile neutropenia, and nausea/vomiting were documented in 61.0, 6.8, 3.4, 3.4, and 3.4% of the patients, respectively. The median overall survival was 16.9 months. In conclusion, biweekly use of docetaxel and mitoxantrone is a highly effective and well-tolerated regimen for patients with advanced breast cancer. The optimal dosage of docetaxel in combination with chemotherapeutic regimen may be given every 2 weeks.

A dose escalation and pharmacokinetic study of the biweekly administration of paclitaxel, gemcitabine and oxaliplatin in patients with advanced solid tumors

“…Based on the diVerent mechanisms of action, in vitro synergism and non-overlapping toxicity proWles, the combined administration of paclitaxel, gemcitabine and LOHP constitutes an engaging regimen with theoretical and clinical supportive background. Since bone marrow recovery from chemotherapy-induced toxic eVects usually occurs within 2 weeks, the biweekly administration schedule has been introduced, and has recently become very popular, as a means to increase dose density and, at the same time, deliver higher cumulative drug doses without excessive toxicity [18]. This phase I study was designed to evaluate the safety and tolerance of the triple combination of paclitaxel, gemcitabine and LOHP administered biweekly in patients with advanced solid tumors.…”