Docefrez

GENERIC AVAILABLE: No

Mechanism Of Action

Docetaxel is an antineoplastic agent that acts by disrupting the microtubular network in cells that is essential for mitotic and interphase cellular functions. Docetaxel binds to free tubulin and promotes the assembly of tubulin into stable microtubules while simultaneously inhibiting their disassembly. This leads to the production of microtubule bundles without normal function and to the stabilization of microtubules, which results in the inhibition of mitosis in cells. Docetaxel's binding to microtubules does not alter the number of protofilaments in the bound microtubules, a feature which differs from most spindle poisons currently in clinical use.

Human Pharmacokinetics

The pharmacokinetics of docetaxel have been evaluated in cancer patients after administration of 20 mg/m² to 115 mg/m² in phase 1 studies. The area under the curve (AUC) was dose proportional following doses of 70 mg/m² to 115 mg/m² with infusion times of 1 to 2 hours. Docetaxel's pharmacokinetic profile is consistent with a three-compartment pharmacokinetic model, with half-lives for the α, β, and γ phases of 4 min, 36 min, and 11.1 hour, respectively. Mean total body clearance was 21 L/h/m² .

The initial rapid decline represents distribution to the peripheral compartments and the late (terminal) phase is due, in part, to a relatively slow efflux of docetaxel from the peripheral compartment. Mean steady state volume of distribution was 113 L. In vitro studies showed that docetaxel is about 94% protein bound, mainly to α1-acid glycoprotein, albumin, and lipoproteins. In three cancer patients, the in vitro binding to plasma proteins was found to be approximately 97%. Dexamethasone does not affect the protein binding of docetaxel.

In vitro drug interaction studies revealed that docetaxel is metabolized by the CYP3A4 isoenzyme, and its metabolism may be modified by the concomitant administration of compounds that induce, inhibit, or are metabolized by cytochrome P450 3A4 [see DRUG INTERACTIONS].

A study of 14C-docetaxel was conducted in three cancer patients. Docetaxel was eliminated in both the urine and feces following oxidative metabolism of the tert-butyl ester group, but fecal excretion was the main elimination route. Within 7 days, urinary and fecal excretion accounted for approximately 6% and 75% of the administered radioactivity, respectively. About 80% of the radioactivity recovered in feces is excreted during the first 48 hours as 1 major and 3 minor metabolites with very small amounts (less than 8%) of unchanged drug.

A population pharmacokinetic analysis was carried out after docetaxel treatment of 535 patients dosed at 100 mg/m². Pharmacokinetic parameters estimated by this analysis were very close to those estimated from phase 1 studies. The pharmacokinetics of docetaxel were not influenced by age.

The population pharmacokinetics analysis described above also indicated that gender did not influence the pharmacokinetics of docetaxel.

The population pharmacokinetic analysis described above indicated that in patients with clinical chemistry data suggestive of mild to moderate liver impairment (AST and/or ALT > 1.5 times ULN concomitant with alkaline phosphatase > 2.5 times ULN), total body clearance was lowered by an average of 27%, resulting in a 38% increase in systemic exposure (AUC). This average, however, includes a substantial range and there is, at present, no measurement that would allow recommendation for dose adjustment in such patients. Patients with combined abnormalities of transaminase and alkaline phosphatase should not be treated with DOCEFREZ. Patients with severe hepatic impairment have not been studied. [see WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS and Use in Specific Populations].

Mean total body clearance for Japanese patients dosed at the range of 10 mg/m² to 90 mg/m² was similar to that of European/American populations dosed at 100 mg/m², suggesting no significant difference in the elimination of docetaxel in the two populations.

The effect of ketoconazole (a strong CYP3A4 inhibitor) on the pharmacokinetics of docetaxel was investigated in 7 cancer patients. Patients were randomized to receive either docetaxel (100 mg/m² intravenous) alone or docetaxel (10 mg/m² intravenous) in combination with ketoconazole (200 mg orally once daily for 3 days) in a crossover design with a 3-week washout period. The results of this study indicated that the mean dose-normalized AUC of docetaxel was increased 2.2-fold and its clearance was reduced by 49% when docetaxel was co-administration with ketoconazole [see DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION and Drug-Drug Interactions].

• Dexamethasone: Docetaxel total body clearance was not modified by pretreatment with dexamethasone.
• Cisplatin: Clearance of docetaxel in combination therapy with cisplatin was similar to that previously observed following monotherapy with docetaxel. The pharmacokinetic profile of cisplatin in combination therapy with docetaxel was similar to that observed with cisplatin alone.
• Prednisone: A population pharmacokinetic analysis of plasma data from 40 patients with hormone-refractory metastatic prostate cancer indicated that docetaxel systemic clearance in combination with prednisone is similar to that observed following administration of docetaxel alone.

Clinical Studies

Locally Advanced Or Metastatic Breast Cancer

The efficacy and safety of docetaxel have been evaluated in locally advanced or metastatic breast cancer after failure of previous chemotherapy (alkylating agent-containing regimens or anthracycline-containing regimens).

In one randomized trial, patients with a history of prior treatment with an anthracycline-containing regimen were assigned to treatment with docetaxel (100 mg/m² every 3 weeks) or the combination of mitomycin (12 mg/m² every 6 weeks) and vinblastine (6 mg/m² every 3 weeks). Two hundred three patients were randomized to docetaxel and 189 to the comparator arm. Most patients had received prior chemotherapy for metastatic disease; only 27 patients on the docetaxel arm and 33 patients on the comparator arm entered the study following relapse after adjuvant therapy. Three-quarters of patients had measurable, visceral metastases. The primary endpoint was time to progression. The following table summarizes the study results (See Table 8).

Table 8 : Efficacy of Docetaxel in the Treatment of Breast Cancer Patients Previously Treated with an Anthracycline-Containing Regimen (Intent-to-Treat Analysis)

In a second randomized trial, patients previously treated with an alkylating-containing regimen were assigned to treatment with docetaxel (100 mg/m²) or doxorubicin (75 mg/m² ) every 3 weeks. One hundred sixty-one patients were randomized to docetaxel and 165 patients to doxorubicin. Approximately one-half of patients had received prior chemotherapy for metastatic disease, and one-half entered the study following relapse after adjuvant therapy. Three-quarters of patients had measurable, visceral metastases. The primary endpoint was time to progression. The study results are summarized below (See Table 9).

Table 9 : Efficacy of Docetaxel in the Treatment of Breast Cancer Patients Previously Treated with an Alkylating-Containing Regimen (Intent-to-Treat Analysis)

In another multicenter open-label, randomized trial (TAX313), in the treatment of patients with advanced breast cancer who progressed or relapsed after one prior chemotherapy regimen, 527 patients were randomized to receive docetaxel monotherapy 60 mg/m² (n=151), 75 mg/m² (n=188) or 100 mg/m² (n=188). In this trial, 94% of patients had metastatic disease and 79% had received prior anthracycline therapy. Response rate was the primary endpoint. Response rates increased with docetaxel dose: 19.9% for the 60 mg/m² group compared to 22.3% for the 75 mg/m² and 29.8% for the 100 mg/m² group; pair-wise comparison between the 60 mg/m² and 100 mg/m² groups was statistically significant (p=0.037).

Docetaxel at a dose of 100 mg/m² was studied in six single arm studies involving a total of 309 patients with metastatic breast cancer in whom previous chemotherapy had failed. Among these, 190 patients had anthracycline-resistant breast cancer, defined as progression during an anthracycline-containing chemotherapy regimen for metastatic disease, or relapse during an anthracycline-containing adjuvant regimen. In anthracycline-resistant patients, the overall response rate was 37.9% (72/190; 95% C.I.: 31.0% to 44.8%) and the complete response rate was 2.1%.

Docetaxel was also studied in three single arm Japanese studies at a dose of 60 mg/m², in 174 patients who had received prior chemotherapy for locally advanced or metastatic breast cancer. Among 26 patients whose best response to an anthracycline had been progression, the response rate was 34.6% (95% C.I.: 17.2% to 55.7%), similar to the response rate in single arm studies of 100 mg/m² .

Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC)

The efficacy and safety of docetaxel has been evaluated in patients with unresectable, locally advanced or metastatic non-small cell lung cancer whose disease has failed prior platinum-based chemotherapy or in patients who are chemotherapy-naïve.

Two randomized, controlled trials established that a docetaxel dose of 75 mg/m² was tolerable and yielded a favorable outcome in patients previously treated with platinum-based chemotherapy (see below). Docetaxel at a dose of 100 mg/m², however, was associated with unacceptable hematologic toxicity, infections, and treatment-related mortality and this dose should not be used [see BOXED WARNING, DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION, WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS].

One trial (TAX317), randomized patients with locally advanced or metastatic non-small cell lung cancer, a history of prior platinum-based chemotherapy, no history of taxane exposure, and an ECOG performance status ≤ 2 to docetaxel or best supportive care. The primary endpoint of the study was survival. Patients were initially randomized to docetaxel 100 mg/m² or best supportive care, but early toxic deaths at this dose led to a dose reduction to docetaxel 75 mg/m². A total of 104 patients were randomized in this amended study to either docetaxel 75 mg/m² or best supportive care.

In a second randomized trial (TAX320), 373 patients with locally advanced or metastatic non-small cell lung cancer, a history of prior platinum-based chemotherapy, and an ECOG performance status ≤ 2 were randomized to docetaxel 75 mg/m², docetaxel 100 mg/m² and a treatment in which the investigator chose either vinorelbine 30 mg/m² days 1, 8, and 15 repeated every 3 weeks or ifosfamide 2 g/m² days 1-3 repeated every 3 weeks. Forty percent of the patients in this study had a history of prior paclitaxel exposure. The primary endpoint was survival in both trials. The efficacy data for the docetaxel 75 mg/m² arm and the comparator arms are summarized in Table 10 and Figures 1 and 2 showing the survival curves for the two studies.

Table 10 : Efficacy of Docetaxel in the Treatment of Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Patients Previously Treated with a Platinum-Based Chemotherapy Regimen (Intent-to-Treat Analysis)

Only one of the two trials (TAX317) showed a clear effect on survival, the primary endpoint; that trial also showed an increased rate of survival to one year. In the second study (TAX320) the rate of survival at one year favored docetaxel 75 mg/m² .

Figure 1 :TAX317 Survival K-M Curves -Docetaxel 75 mg/m² vs. Best Supportive Care

Figure 2 :TAX320 Survival K-M Curves – Docetaxel 75 mg/m² vs. Vinorelbine or Ifosfamide Control

Patients treated with docetaxel at a dose of 75 mg/m² experienced no deterioration in performance status and body weight relative to the comparator arms used in these trials.

In a randomized controlled trial (TAX326), 1218 patients with unresectable stage IIIB or IV NSCLC and no prior chemotherapy were randomized to receive one of three treatments: docetaxel 75 mg/m² as a 1 hour infusion immediately followed by cisplatin 75 mg/m² over 30 to 60 minutes every 3 weeks; vinorelbine 25 mg/m² administered over 6-10 minutes on days 1, 8, 15, 22 followed by cisplatin 100 mg/m² administered on day 1 of cycles repeated every 4 weeks; or a combination of docetaxel and carboplatin.

The primary efficacy endpoint was overall survival. Treatment with docetaxel+cisplatin did not result in a statistically significantly superior survival compared to vinorelbine+cisplatin (see table below). The 95% confidence interval of the hazard ratio (adjusted for interim analysis and multiple comparisons) shows that the addition of docetaxel to cisplatin results in an outcome ranging from a 6% inferior to a 26% superior survival compared to the addition of vinorelbine to cisplatin. The results of a further statistical analysis showed that at least (the lower bound of the 95% confidence interval) 62% of the known survival effect of vinorelbine when added to cisplatin (about a 2-month increase in median survival; Wozniak et al. JCO, 1998) was maintained. The efficacy data for the docetaxel+cisplatin arm and the comparator arm are summarized in Table 11.

Table 11 :Survival Analysis of Docetaxel in Combination Therapy for Chemotherapy-Naïve NSCLC

The second comparison in the same three-arm study, vinorelbine+cisplatin versus docetaxel+carboplatin, did not demonstrate superior survival associated with the docetaxel arm (Kaplan-Meier estimate of median survival was 9.1 months for docetaxel+carboplatin compared to 10.0 months on the vinorelbine+cisplatin arm) and the docetaxel+carboplatin arm did not demonstrate preservation of at least 50% of the survival effect of vinorelbine added to cisplatin. Secondary endpoints evaluated in the trial included objective response and time to progression. There was no statistically significant difference between docetaxel+cisplatin and vinorelbine+cisplatin with respect to objective response and time to progression (see Table 12).

Table 12 :Response and TTP Analysis of Docetaxel in Combination Therapy for Chemotherapy-Naïve NSCLC

Hormone Refractory Prostate Cancer

The safety and efficacy of docetaxel in combination with prednisone in patients with androgen independent (hormone refractory) metastatic prostate cancer were evaluated in a randomized multicenter active control trial.

A total of 1006 patients with Karnofsky Performance Status (KPS) ≥ 60 were randomized to the following treatment groups:

• Docetaxel 75 mg/m² every 3 weeks for 10 cycles.
• Docetaxel 30 mg/m² administered weekly for the first 5 weeks in a 6-week cycle for 5 cycles.
• Mitoxantrone 12 mg/m² every 3 weeks for 10 cycles.

All 3 regimens were administered in combination with prednisone 5 mg twice daily, continuously.

In the docetaxel every three week arm, a statistically significant overall survival advantage was demonstrated compared to mitoxantrone. In the docetaxel weekly arm, no overall survival advantage was demonstrated compared to the mitoxantrone control arm. Efficacy results for the docetaxel every 3 week arm versus the control arm are summarized in Table 13 and Figure 3.

Table 13: Efficacy of Docetaxel in the Treatment of Patients with Androgen Independent (Hormone Refractory) Metastatic Prostate Cancer (Intent-to-Treat Analysis)

Figure 3 : TAX327 Survival K-M Curves

REFERENCES

1. NIOSH Alert: Preventing occupational exposures to antineoplastic and other hazardous drugs in healthcare settings. 2004. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Public Health Service, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, DHHS (NIOSH) Publication No. 2004-165.

2. OSHA Technical Manual, TED 1-0.15A, Section VI: Chapter 2. Controlling Occupational Exposure to Hazardous Drugs. OSHA, 1999.

3. American Society of Health-System Pharmacists. (2006) ASHP Guidelines on Handling Hazardous Drugs. Am J Health-Syst Pharm. 2006;63:1172-11934. Polovich, M., White, J. M., & Kelleher, L.O. (eds.) 2005. Chemotherapy and biotherapy guidelines and recommendations for practice (2nd. ed.) Pittsburgh, PA: Oncology Nursing Society.

Docefrez may cause serious side effects. See "Drug Precautions" section.

The most common side effects of Docefrez include:

• infections
• changes in your sense of taste
• decreased appetite
• changes in your fingernails or toenails
• swelling of your hands, face or feet
• feeling weak or tired
• joint and muscle pain
• nausea and vomiting
• diarrhea
• constipation
• mouth or lips sores
• hair loss
• decrease in red blood cells, neutrophils, and/or platelets
• redness of the eye, excess tearing
• hypersensitivity reactions such as flushing, rash with or without itching, chest tightness, back pain, feeling short of breath, drug fever, or chills
• skin reactions at the site of Docefrez administration such as increased skin pigmentation, redness, tenderness, swelling, warmth or dryness of the skin.
• tissue damage if Docefrez leaks out of the vein into the tissues

Tell your doctor if you have any side effect that bothers you or does not go away.

These are not all the possible side effects of Docefrez. For more information ask your doctor or pharmacist.

Tell your doctor about all the medicines you take including prescription and non-prescription medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements. Especially tell your doctor if you take:

• ketoconazole
• ritonavir
• rifampin
• rifabutin

This is not a complete list of Docefrez drug interactions. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.

Your doctor or pharmacist can provide more information about docetaxel.

Remember, keep this and all other medicines out of the reach of children, never share your medicines with others, and use this medication only for the indication prescribed.

Every effort has been made to ensure that the information provided by Cerner Multum, Inc. ('Multum') is accurate, up-to-date, and complete, but no guarantee is made to that effect. Drug information contained herein may be time sensitive. Multum information has been compiled for use by healthcare practitioners and consumers in the United States and therefore Multum does not warrant that uses outside of the United States are appropriate, unless specifically indicated otherwise. Multum's drug information does not endorse drugs, diagnose patients or recommend therapy. Multum's drug information is an informational resource designed to assist licensed healthcare practitioners in caring for their patients and/or to serve consumers viewing this service as a supplement to, and not a substitute for, the expertise, skill, knowledge and judgment of healthcare practitioners. The absence of a warning for a given drug or drug combination in no way should be construed to indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective or appropriate for any given patient. Multum does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the aid of information Multum provides. The information contained herein is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. If you have questions about the drugs you are taking, check with your doctor, nurse or pharmacist.

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Seek emergency medical attention or call the Poison Help line at 1-800-222-1222.

Use Docefrez as ordered by your doctor. Read all information given to you. Follow all instructions closely.

• It is given as an infusion into a vein over a period of time.
• A steroid drug like dexamethasone will be given before this medicine to lower side effects. Talk with the doctor. Tell the doctor if the steroid drug is not used as your doctor has told you.

What do I do if I miss a dose?

• Call your doctor to find out what to do.

All drugs may cause side effects. However, many people have no side effects or only have minor side effects. Call your doctor or get medical help if any of these side effects or any other side effects bother you or do not go away:

• Upset stomach or throwing up.
• Loose stools (diarrhea).
• Mouth irritation or mouth sores.
• Feeling tired or weak.
• Hair loss.
• Change in nails.
• Change in taste.
• Hard stools (constipation).
• Not hungry.
• Joint pain.
• Eye redness.
• Tearing.

These are not all of the side effects that may occur. If you have questions about side effects, call your doctor. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects.

You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088. You may also report side effects at http://www.fda.gov/medwatch.

Breast Cancer

Docefrez is indicated for the treatment of patients with locally advanced or metastatic breast cancer after failure of prior chemotherapy.

Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer

Docefrez as a single agent is indicated for the treatment of patients with locally advanced or metastatic non-small cell lung cancer after failure of prior platinum-based chemotherapy.
Docefrez in combination with cisplatin is indicated for the treatment of patients with unresectable, locally advanced or metastatic non-small cell lung cancer who have not previously received chemotherapy for this condition.

Prostate Cancer

Docefrez in combination with prednisone is indicated for the treatment of patients with androgen independent (hormone refractory) metastatic prostate cancer.

Docetaxel is a CYP3A4 substrate. In vitro studies have shown that the metabolism of docetaxel may be modified by the concomitant administration of compounds that induce, inhibit, or are metabolized by cytochrome P450 3A4.

In vivo studies showed that the exposure of docetaxel increased 2.2-fold when it was coadministered with ketoconazole, a potent inhibitor of CYP3A4. Protease inhibitors, particularly ritonavir, may increase the exposure of docetaxel.  Concomitant use of Docefrez and drugs that inhibit CYP3A4 may increase exposure to docetaxel and should be avoided. In patients receiving treatment with Docefrez, close monitoring for toxicity and a Docefrez dose reduction could be considered if systemic administration of a potent CYP3A4 inhibitor cannot be avoided [see Dosage and Administration (2.7) and Clinical Pharmacology (12.3)].

How Supplied

Docefrez (Lyophilized Powder for Injection and Diluent)

Docefrez (docetaxel) for Injection is supplied in a single use vial as a sterile, lyophilized powder with an accompanying sterile, non-pyrogenic, Diluent (35.4% w/w ethanol in polysorbate 80) vial.
 
Docefrez (docetaxel) for Injection, 80 mg (NDC 47335-286-41)
Docefrez (docetaxel) for Injection 80 mg: 80 mg docetaxel and Diluent for docetaxel 80 mg (35.4% (w/w) ethanol in polysorbate 80). Both items are in a tray in one carton.
 
Docefrez (docetaxel) for Injection 20 mg (NDC 47335-285-41)
Docefrez (docetaxel) for Injection 20 mg: 20 mg docetaxel and Diluent for docetaxel 20 mg (35.4% (w/w) ethanol in polysorbate 80). Both items are in a tray in one carton.

Storage

Store between 2°C and 8°C (36°F and 46°F). Retain in the original package to protect from bright light.

Handling and Disposal

Procedures for proper handling and disposal of anticancer drugs should be considered. Several guidelines on this subject have been published [see References (15)].

NDC 47335-285-40
DocefrezTM
(Docetaxel) for Injection
20 mg
For Intravenous Infusion Only
Each Docefrez for Injection vial contains a slight overfill to deliver 20 mg of Docetaxel per 0.8 mL after reconstitution
Rx ONLY

You should not receive Docefrez if you have a low white blood cell (WBC) count, or if you have ever had a severe allergic reaction to docetaxel or to any medicine that contains polysorbate 80.

Tell your doctor about your complete health history and all medications you have used. Docefrez can cause severe side effects including death, especially:

• if you receive high doses;

• if you have liver disease; or

• if you have non-small cell lung cancer and you have been treated in the past with chemotherapy that contains platinum (cisplatin, carboplatin, oxaliplatin).

To make sure Docefrez is safe for you, tell your doctor if you have:

• kidney disease;

• a history of liver disease or alcoholism;

• heart disease, congestive heart failure;

• fluid retention or swelling problems;

• an allergy to any medicines;

• if you need to limit your alcohol intake; or

• if you have lung cancer and you have received Docefrez in the past.

Using Docefrez may increase your risk of developing other types of cancer, such as leukemia. Ask your doctor about your specific risk.

Do not use Docefrez if you are pregnant. It could harm the unborn baby. Use effective birth control to avoid pregnancy during your treatment with this medicine. Follow your doctor's instructions about how long to prevent pregnancy after your treatment ends.

It is not known whether docetaxel passes into breast milk or if it could harm a nursing baby. You should not breast-feed while receiving Docefrez.

Seek emergency medical attention or call the Poison Help line at 1-800-222-1222.

Use is not recommended. AU TGA pregnancy category: D US FDA pregnancy category: D Comments: -If this drug is used during pregnancy, or if the patient becomes pregnant while taking this drug, the patient should be apprised of the potential harm to the fetus. -Women of childbearing potential should be advised to avoid becoming pregnant during therapy and for up to 6 months following therapy. -Men being treated with this drug should be advised not to father a child during and for up to 6 months following therapy.

Based on its mechanism of action, this drug is expected to cause fetal harm when administered to pregnant women. Animal studies have revealed evidence of embryotoxicity and fetotoxicity in rabbits and rats. There are no controlled data in human pregnancy. Animal studies have shown decreased testicular weights and testicular atrophy or degeneration. AU TGA pregnancy category D: Drugs which have caused, are suspected to have caused or may be expected to cause, an increased incidence of human fetal malformations or irreversible damage. These drugs may also have adverse pharmacological effects. Accompanying texts should be consulted for further details. US FDA pregnancy category D: There is positive evidence of human fetal risk based on adverse reaction data from investigational or marketing experience or studies in humans, but potential benefits may warrant use of the drug in pregnant women despite potential risks.