title: Peripheral neuropathy secondary to docetaxel (Taxotere)
abstract: Docetaxel (Taxotere), a semisynthetic analogue of the antitumor agent paclitaxel, inhibits tubulin depolymerization. Paclitaxel produces a peripheral neuropathy. This study delineates clinically and electrophysiologically the characteristics of a peripheral neuropathy due to docetaxel. In 186 patients receiving docetaxel in phase I and phase II protocols, we performed serial neurologic exams. As patients became symptomatic, quantitative sensory testing and nerve conduction studies were done. Twenty-one patients developed mild to moderate sensory neuropathy on taxotere at a wide range of cumulative doses (50 to 750 mg/m2) and dose levels (10 to 115 mg/m2). Ten of these patients also developed weakness of varying degree in proximal and distal extremities. Nine of the 21 patients had received neurotoxic chemotherapy before; 16 were treated with docetaxel at a dose level of 100 to 115 mg/m2. In summary, docetaxel produced a sensorimotor peripheral neuropathy in 11% of our patient population.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine/Neurology, University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio 78284-7883, USA.
authors.forename: P Z
authors.initials: PZ
authors.lastname: New
authors.forename: C E
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: Jackson
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Rinaldi
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Burris
authors.forename: R J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Barohn
mesh_terms: D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic / Q000009:adverse effects*; D000077143:Docetaxel; D004576:Electromyography; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017239:Paclitaxel / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000031:analogs & derivatives*; D010523:Peripheral Nervous System Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000503:physiopathology; D043823:Taxoids
chemical_list: D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic; D043823:Taxoids; D000077143:Docetaxel; D017239:Paclitaxel