Docetaxel (Taxotere) administered in weekly schedules

The administration of a weekly low-dose taxane markedly reduces the severity of myelosuppression compared with a once-every-3-week schedule and allows the dose intensity (mg/m2/wk) of treatment to be increased. The dose-limiting toxicity observed in a weekly phase I trial was fatigue/asthenia. The maximum tolerated dose of a weekly docetaxel (Taxotere; Rhône-Poulenc Rorer, Antony, France) phase I study was 43 mg/m2; 36 mg/m2 was recommended for further study. This finding was similar to that in another phase I/II trial of weekly docetaxel in previously treated patients with metastatic breast cancer in which the recommended dose for the phase II study was 35 mg/m2. In this latter study, an objective response rate of 50% and a 0% incidence of febrile neutropenia have been reported. Other studies have been conducted to evaluate the efficacy and safety of the weekly schedule. One such study is an ongoing phase II trial in elderly or medically unfit patients with previously untreated advanced non-small cell lung cancer in whom weekly docetaxel appears active and well tolerated. Further investigation of weekly docetaxel alone or in combination is warranted.