[Taxotere as second-line for metastatic breast cancer]

Due its palliative effects, chemotherapy for breast cancer has two main objectives: disease control for as long as possible and optimal quality of life. Standard first-line treatment includes currently combination regimens with anthracyclines. What is the impact of docetaxel (Taxotere) now available for treatment in case of failure of anthracycline-based regimens?

Preliminary results of randomized phase III trials suggest higher levels of efficacy with docetaxel than those observed with other drugs used so far. Docetaxel toxicity is moderate. Its main side-effects are neutropenia and alopecia. The incidence of the peculiar docetaxel-related fluid retention syndrome has been shown to be delayed by prophylactic corticotherapy.

Further studies are required to assess the impact of docetaxel in combination regimens as well as for the overall management of breast cancer.