Docetaxel (Taxotere) and doxorubicin (Adriamycin) have each demonstrated significant activity in metastatic breast cancer. Thus, the combination of docetaxel and doxorubicin has been evaluated in phase I trials to establish the dose-limiting toxicity, maximum tolerated dose, recommended dose for future phase II and III studies, and toxicity profile of the two agents used in combination. Results...

Docetaxel has been widely used in the treatment of several cancers, including adenocarcinoma of the prostate gland. As docetaxel is insoluble in water, it must be administered with polysorbate 80 and ethanol, which are known to cause hypersensitivity reactions. Premedication with corticosteroids and antihistamines is advocated prior to docetaxel administration; however, toxicities, occasionally...

Hormone-refractory prostate cancer (HRCaP) is both heterogeneous and lethal. Multiple treatment options exist, including secondary hormonal manipulations, chemotherapy, experimental options, and best supportive care. Choosing the appropriate therapy for an individual patient depends on several important clinical factors such as the presence or absence of symptomatic metastatic disease, age and ...

The taxane class of antimicrotubule anticancer agents is perhaps the most important addition to the chemotherapeutic armamentarium against cancer over the past several decades. After only a brief period, the taxanes have not only demonstrated a unique ability to palliate the symptoms of many types of advanced cancers, including carcinoma of the ovary, lung, head and neck, bladder, and esophagus...

A number of natural products, with diverse chemical structures, have been isolated as anticancer agents. Several potential lead molecules such as camptothecin, vincristine, vinblastine, taxol, podophyllotoxin, combretastatins, etc. have been isolated from plants and many of them have been modified to yield better analogues for activity, toxicity or solubility. Several successful molecules like ...

A 64-year-old man who was receiving chemotherapy for gastric cancer with liver metastases was referred to our department for an allergy workup after experiencing a skin reaction. The chemotherapy regimen comprised taxotere, oxaliplatin, and 5uorouracil (5-FU) (combined with calcium folinate) followed by abundant intravenous hydration. Each cycle was administered in combination with a standard p...