Docetaxel
The first chemotherapy to extend life in prostate cancer (2004), now part of triplet therapy at first metastatic diagnosis.
Overview
Docetaxel is a taxane that stabilises microtubules and arrests dividing cells; in prostate cancer it also disrupts androgen receptor nuclear trafficking. It was the first chemotherapy to extend life in metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (TAX 327, 2004) and later moved to first metastatic diagnosis: CHAARTED (OS 57.6 versus 44.0 months, HR 0.61) and STAMPEDE showed an overall survival benefit in high-volume hormone-sensitive disease, and PEACE-1 and ARASENS built triplets by adding abiraterone or darolutamide. It is also widely used in breast, lung, gastric and head and neck cancers. Neutropenia, neuropathy and fluid retention limit its use in frail patients, and whether men with low-volume metastatic disease gain anything from it remains contested. For a newcomer, it is the workhorse chemotherapy given every three weeks across many cancers.
1.Docetaxel slips into a pocket on its target.
- Medicare
- Part B (clinician-administered)
Given by infusion or injection in a clinic or hospital outpatient department, so it is a Part B drug: Medicare pays 80% after the Part B deductible and the patient owes 20% coinsurance, uncapped in Original Medicare unless a Medigap policy applies. HCPCS J9171. Generic.
- Commercial insurance
- covered on label
Multi-source generic; covered under the medical benefit without prior authorisation in most plans, as part of standard regimens.
Sources: Medicare.gov: Chemotherapy · Medicare.gov: Prescription drugs (outpatient, Part B). Not medical or financial advice; verify with your plan.
- Notes
- Generic; TA101 (2006) recommended docetaxel for metastatic hormone-refractory prostate cancer and it is standard in breast, lung, gastric and head and neck regimens.
- NHS England
- Routinely funded for the appraised indication (or via managed access)
Sources: NICE search: docetaxel. Funding decisions are indication-specific and change monthly; verify with NICE and your treating team.
Compare all products across the US, EU, UK, Japan, China and Australia →
Approvals
| Region | Year | Indication |
|---|---|---|
| US | 1996 | Locally advanced or metastatic breast cancer after chemotherapy (Taxotere, NDA 020449) |
| US | 2004 | Metastatic CRPC (with prednisone) |
Trials
topTrials recruiting now
Country and place are remembered in this browser only. A postcode is sent to OpenStreetMap's Nominatim service to find coordinates when you press the button; nothing else leaves your device.
Landmark trials
Latest papers
topQuery for this drug: (TITLE:"Docetaxel" OR ABSTRACT:"Docetaxel" OR TITLE:"Taxotere" OR ABSTRACT:"Taxotere" OR TITLE:"generic" OR ABSTRACT:"generic") AND (radiopharmaceutical OR radioligand OR radionuclide OR theranostic OR "nuclear medicine" OR "molecular imaging" OR radiotracer OR scintigraphy OR cancer OR tumor OR tumour OR oncology OR carcinoma OR lymphoma OR leukemia OR leukaemia OR myeloma OR sarcoma OR melanoma OR glioma). Results are unfiltered search hits about Docetaxel, not a curated reading list.
Similar pages
not linked directly; found by shared links- TrialPSMAddition
Shares UpFrontPSMA, Metastatic hormone-sensitive prostate cancer, Prostate cancer.
- AgentAbiraterone acetate
Shares STAMPEDE, The Study of 177Lu-TLX591 Plus SOC Versus SOC Alone in Patients With mCRPC (ProstACT Global), Metastatic hormone-sensitive prostate cancer, Metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer.
- IndicationNon-metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer
Shares Neuroendocrine and small-cell prostate cancer, Metastatic hormone-sensitive prostate cancer, Metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer, Prostate cancer.
- AgentEnzalutamide
Shares STAMPEDE, The Study of 177Lu-TLX591 Plus SOC Versus SOC Alone in Patients With mCRPC (ProstACT Global), Metastatic hormone-sensitive prostate cancer, Metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer.
- AgentCabazitaxel
Shares Neuroendocrine and small-cell prostate cancer, Metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer, Prostate cancer.
- PersonSilke Gillessen
Shares STAMPEDE, Prostate cancer.
- AgentFPI-2265
Shares Phase Ib/II Platform Study of Multiple Anti-Cancer Agents in Participants With Metastatic Prostate Cancer, Metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer, Prostate cancer.
- AgentLutetium-177 rosopatamab tetraxetan
Shares The Study of 177Lu-TLX591 Plus SOC Versus SOC Alone in Patients With mCRPC (ProstACT Global), Metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer.