Docetaxel secretion in tears: association with lacrimal drainage obstruction.
OBJECTIVE
To test the hypothesis that docetaxel may be secreted in tears after intravenous infusion.


METHODS
Prospective pilot trial.


METHODS
Tear fluid was collected from 4 patients receiving docetaxel weekly and 2 patients receiving docetaxel every 3 weeks as a single agent for the treatment of metastatic breast cancer. Tear samples were collected once prior to and again within 30 minutes following the end of the 1-hour docetaxel infusion. A blood sample was also obtained after infusion. The tear and plasma samples were analyzed for drug content using high-performance liquid chromatography and tandem mass spectrometry.


RESULTS
Docetaxel was found in the tear samples collected from all 6 patients.


CONCLUSIONS
The secretion of docetaxel in tears may be a mechanism for canalicular inflammation and tear drainage obstruction, which are known to occur as an adverse effect of the drug.
Esmaeli
Bita
B
Ophthalmology Section, Department of Plastic Surgery, Box 443, University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, 1515 Holcombe Blvd, Houston, TX 77030, USA. besmaeli@mdanderson.org
Ahmadi
M Amir
MA
Rivera
Edgardo
E
Valero
Vicente
V
Hutto
Toni
T
Jackson
Denise M
DM
Newman
Robert A
RA
D000368:Aged; D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D000077143:Docetaxel; D005260:Female; D008401:Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry; D006801:Humans; D007262:Infusions, Intravenous; D007767:Lacrimal Duct Obstruction / Q000139:chemically induced*; D008875:Middle Aged; D017239:Paclitaxel / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011446:Prospective Studies; D043823:Taxoids; D013666:Tears / Q000378:metabolism*
D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic; D043823:Taxoids; D000077143:Docetaxel; D017239:Paclitaxel