docetaxel at a glance
Medicine class
Taxane cytotoxic chemotherapy
Administration
Given by intravenous infusion in a specialist cancer-treatment unit
Before treatment
A corticosteroid is commonly prescribed to reduce fluid retention and infusion reactions
Important monitoring
Blood counts, liver function and treatment toxicity are assessed regularly
What is docetaxel used for?
The selected product is licensed for these cancers, with the exact combination and treatment setting determined by the oncology team.
Early operable breast cancer in combination treatment after surgery, including eligible node-positive and node-negative disease
Locally advanced or metastatic breast cancer, either alone or with specified anticancer medicines
Unresectable locally advanced or metastatic non-small-cell lung cancer, including use after previous chemotherapy
Metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer with prednisone or prednisolone
Metastatic hormone-sensitive prostate cancer with androgen-deprivation therapy, with or without prednisone or prednisolone
Previously untreated metastatic gastric or gastro-oesophageal junction adenocarcinoma, in combination treatment
Induction treatment of locally advanced squamous-cell cancer of the head and neck, in combination treatment
How does docetaxel work?
Docetaxel binds to tubulin and stabilises microtubules, preventing their normal dismantling. This disrupts cell division and other essential cell functions, causing susceptible cancer cells to die.
docetaxel preparations and strengths
Solution for infusion
Route: Intravenous
Strengths: 10 mg/mL
How to take docetaxel
Docetaxel is not taken at home. A trained team dilutes the concentrate and gives it into a vein under supervision. Take prescribed corticosteroid premedication exactly as directed and tell the team if it was missed or vomited.
Attend requested blood tests and clinical reviews before treatment.
Tell the team promptly about infection symptoms, diarrhoea, breathlessness, swelling, numbness, skin changes or other new problems.
Do not drive or operate machinery if treatment effects make you dizzy, sleepy, weak or otherwise impaired.
docetaxel side effects
Common or expected effects
- Low white-cell counts and increased infection risk
- Anaemia and sometimes low platelets
- Tiredness or weakness
- Hair loss
- Nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea or constipation
- Sore mouth or throat
- Numbness, tingling or weakness in the hands or feet
- Skin, nail or taste changes
- Muscle or joint pain
- Fluid retention, swelling or weight gain
- Infusion-related hypersensitivity reactions
Get urgent medical advice
- Fever, shivering or other infection signs, which may indicate neutropenic sepsis
- Severe hypersensitivity with breathing difficulty, low blood pressure or widespread rash
- New or worsening breathlessness, which may indicate serious lung toxicity
- Severe or persistent diarrhoea or abdominal pain, including possible enterocolitis
- Blistering, peeling or widespread painful rash
- Unusual bleeding or bruising
- Marked swelling, rapid weight gain or breathing difficulty associated with fluid retention
- Severe or progressive peripheral neuropathy
docetaxel in pregnancy
Docetaxel can harm a developing baby and should not be used during pregnancy unless clearly indicated by specialists. Pregnancy must be avoided during treatment. The selected product information specifies effective contraception during treatment and afterwards for two months for people who could become pregnant and four months for men who could father a child. Tell the oncology team immediately about a pregnancy or suspected pregnancy.
docetaxel while breastfeeding
Breastfeeding must stop during treatment because harmful exposure of the infant cannot be excluded. Ask the oncology and maternity teams when breastfeeding may safely restart after all cancer treatments have finished.
docetaxel interactions
The oncology team should review all prescription, non-prescription and complementary products before treatment.
Strong CYP3A4 inhibitors, including clarithromycin, itraconazole, ketoconazole, ritonavir and voriconazole
They can reduce docetaxel metabolism and increase toxicity, so avoidance or close specialist management may be needed.
Ciclosporin or erythromycin
These may alter docetaxel metabolism; specialist review and monitoring are required when used together.
Medicines containing ethanol or propylene glycol
Combined exposure may increase ethanol accumulation or adverse effects; the selected concentrate itself contains ethanol.
Common questions about docetaxel
Answers are fully visible for fast scanning and source review.
Why are steroids given before docetaxel?
Corticosteroid premedication reduces the frequency and severity of fluid retention and hypersensitivity reactions. Follow the cancer team's instructions and report missed premedication before treatment.
What blood tests are needed?
Blood counts are checked because docetaxel commonly lowers neutrophils and may affect red cells and platelets. Liver tests are required because impaired liver function can increase exposure and toxicity.
Can a serious infection occur without a high temperature?
Yes. Contact the cancer team urgently whenever you feel unwell or have infection symptoms, even without a raised temperature.
Sources
These sources were used to prepare and review this medicine page.
Prepared and reviewed by the iatroX editorial team.