Gastrointestinal toxicity associated with weekly docetaxel treatment.
Previous studies have demonstrated a marked reduction of haematological and non-haematological toxicity if weekly doses of docetaxel <40 mg/m2 were used. Reviewing the literature, neutropenic enterocolitis is uncommon but not unknown in patients treated with taxane-based chemotherapy. Although this complication occurs rarely, here we report on two patients, one with metastatic breast cancer and one with non-small-cell lung cancer, treated on a weekly schedule with single-agent docetaxel. Both patients developed excessive and fatal haemorrhragic gastroduodenitis and enterocolitis associated with grade 2 and 3 neutropenia. We would like to stress the importance of symptoms such as abdominal pain and tenderness, fever, diarrhoea and mucositis, with or without neutropenic fever, in patients treated with docetaxel-based chemotherapy. These symptoms should alert the physician and supportive care management should be started aggressively and immediately.
Department of Internal Medicine III, Klinikum Grosshadern, University of Munich, Germany. joachim.stemmler@med3.med.uni-muenchen.de
H J
HJ
Stemmler
S
S
Kenngotte
H
H
Diepolder
V
V
Heinemann
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002289:Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D004064:Digestive System / Q000187:drug effects; D000077143:Docetaxel; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D064420:Drug-Related Side Effects and Adverse Reactions / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology*; D004760:Enterocolitis / Q000139:chemically induced*; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007262:Infusions, Intravenous; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D009102:Multiple Organ Failure; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D017239:Paclitaxel / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000031:analogs & derivatives*; D018570:Risk Assessment; D043823:Taxoids
D043823:Taxoids; D000077143:Docetaxel; D017239:Paclitaxel