Docetaxel

Docetaxel (molecular formula: C43H53NO14) is an intravenously administered cytostatic, lipophilic active ingredient (mitosis inhibitor) from the taxane group for the treatment of various types of cancer. Docetaxel can be regarded as a derivative of paclitaxel and differs from it structurally in two positions. The active ingredient is present in the drug as docetaxel trihydrate. It is produced semi-synthetically from ingredients of the European yew (paclitaxel is mainly extracted from the Pacific yew ). Docetaxel is a substrate of CYP3A.

The effects are based, analogous to those of paclitaxel, on a disruption of the microtubule network, which leads to an inhibition of mitosis and thus to an inhibition of cell division.

• Breast Cancer
• Non-small cell lung cancer
• Prostate carcinoma
• gastric adenocarcinoma
• Squamous cell carcinomas in the ENT area

Among the most common possible adverse effects of the drug are digestive disorders, fatigue, pain, skin rash, hair loss, infectious diseases and blood count disorders (bone marrow toxicity).

Taxotere®; Generics

1. Graefe KH et al. non-selective cytotoxic chemotherapeutics (cytostatics) In: Graefe KH et al (Eds) Pharmacology and Toxicology. Georg Thieme Publisher Stuttgart S 672