[Reduction of adverse reactions of anticancer agents with altered dose and schedule]

It is difficult to find out optimal dose and schedule of anticancer agents. To reduce side effects of anticancer agents, there are several methods used: dose reduction, analogue development, utilizations of G-CSF or non-anticancer agent such as mesna for ifosfamide. Taxane agents such as paclitaxel and docetaxel, are widely used for the treatment of cancers of ovary, breast, lung, stomach, and head and neck. Dose-limiting toxicity of taxane is Grade 4 leucopenia with usual 24, 6, and 3-hour infusions. Efforts to reduce this toxicity were made, and one-hour weekly taxane infusion was found as safe and effective treatment, which is now widely used as single agent treatment or in combination. Development of paclitaxel one-hour weekly infusion was reviewed, as one example of reducing adverse reaction of leucopenia in this article.