You are using an outdated browser. We suggest you update your browser for a better experience. Click here for update.
Close this notification.
Skip to main content Skip to search

COVID-19: Get the latest updates or take a self-assessment.

Screen for hepatitis B virus in all cancer patients starting systemic treatment. Find out more about hepatitis B virus screening and management.

Drug Formulary information is intended for use by healthcare professionals. It is not intended to be medical advice. Some of the information, including information about funding for cancer drugs, does not apply to all patients. Cancer treatment plans are unique to each patient. If you are a patient, please speak with your healthcare team to understand how this information applies to you.

A - Regimen Name

CRBPDOCE Regimen
DOCEtaxel-CARBOplatin


Disease Site
Lung - Non-Small Cell

Intent
Palliative

Regimen Category
Evidence-Informed :

Regimen is considered appropriate as part of the standard care of patients; meaningfully improves outcomes (survival, quality of life), tolerability or costs compared to alternatives (recommended by the Disease Site Team and national consensus body e.g. pan-Canadian Oncology Drug Review, pCODR).  Recommendation is based on an appropriately conducted phase III clinical trial relevant to the Canadian context OR (where phase III trials are not feasible) an appropriately sized phase II trial. Regimens where one or more drugs are not approved by Health Canada for any indication will be identified under Rationale and Use.


Rationale and Uses

Alternative to cisplatin-docetaxel for the treatment of locally advanced or metastatic non-small cell lung cancer

 
B - Drug Regimen

DOCEtaxel
75 mg /m² IV Day 1
CARBOplatin
AUC 5 IV Day 1
Adjust Carboplatin dose to AUC target (using Calvert formula) as outlined in the "Other Notes" section.
back to top
 
C - Cycle Frequency

REPEAT EVERY 21 DAYS

For a usual total of 4 to 6 cycles in responding patients, unless disease progression or unacceptable toxicity occurs.

 
D - Premedication and Supportive Measures

Antiemetic Regimen:

Moderate + NK1 antagonist (Carboplatin AUC ≥ 5)

Other Supportive Care:

Dexamethasone 8 mg bid po for 3 days starting 1 day before docetaxel (prevent anaphylaxis/fluid retention.)

Also refer to CCO Antiemetic Recommendations.

 
E - Dose Modifications

Doses should be modified according to the protocol by which the patient is being treated. The following recommendations have been adapted from clinical trials or product monographs and could be considered.

 

Dosage with toxicity

Toxicity Type / Counts x 109/L
 
Toxicity Type / Counts x 109/L
Carboplatin1
 
Docetaxel1
(% previous dose)
Febrile Neutropenia
OR
Grade 4 ANC ≥ 7 d
↓ 1 AUC
75%
Grade 3 rash
Or
Grade 3 Neurotoxicity
Restart by ↓ 1 AUC
Restart at 75%. Discontinue if recurs
Any occurrence of cystoid macular edema     No change Hold and investigate; refer patient promptly to an ophthalmic examination. Discontinue if confirmed.
Other Grade 3 major organ /  non-hematologic
 
 
↓ 1 AUC
75%
Grade 4 major organ / non-hematologic
 
 
Discontinue
Discontinue
1Prior to retreatment, toxicity should have recovered to ≤grade 2, ANC to ≥1.5x109/L, platelets ≥100x109/L



Hepatic Impairment

 
AST and/or ALT
 
Alk Phosp
 
Bilirubin
Docetaxel
(% previous dose)
Dose of Carboplatin
Mild-moderate
> 1.5 X ULN
AND
> 2.5 x ULN
 
 
Do not treat
No dose adjustment required
Severe
> 3.5 x ULN
OR
> 6 x ULN
OR
> ULN
Do not treat. Discontinue if treatment already started.

Renal Impairment

  • As creatinine clearance changes, adjust dosage of carboplatin using the Calvert Formula. (See Section: Other Notes)
  • Modification for docetaxel not required.

Dosage in the Elderly

No adjustment required for docetaxel, but caution should be exercised in elderly patients with poor performance status.

For carboplatin, caution should be exercised and dose reduction considered as elderly patients may have more severe myelosuppression and neuropathy.

 


 
F - Adverse Effects
Refer to DOCEtaxel, CARBOplatin drug monograph(s) for additional details of adverse effects

Most Common Side Effects 

Less Common Side Effects, but may be
Severe or Life-Threatening

  • Myelosuppression ± infection/bleeding (may be severe)
  • Hypersensitivity reactions (may be severe)
  • Musculoskeletal pain (may be severe)
  • Fluid retention (may be severe)
  • Neuropathy (including ototoxicity)
  • Cutaneous (skin and nails)
  • Fatigue
  • GI (nausea, stomatitis, diarrhea)
  • Alopecia
  • Nephrotoxicity
  • Electrolyte abnormalities
  • Lacrimation / lacrimal duct obstruction
  • Secondary malignancies
  • Pneumonitis
  • Arterial Thromboembolism
  • Venous Thromboembolism
  • Hemolytic-uremic Syndrome
  • GI perforation / obstruction
  • Arrhythmia, heart failure
  • DIC
  • ↑ LFTs (may be severe)
  • Cystoid macular edema
 
G - Interactions
Refer to DOCEtaxel, CARBOplatin drug monograph(s) for additional details
 
H - Drug Administration and Special Precautions

Refer to DOCEtaxel, CARBOplatin drug monograph(s) for additional details

 

 
I - Recommended Clinical Monitoring

Treating physicians may decide to monitor more or less frequently for individual patients but should always consider recommendations from the product monograph.

Recommended Clinical Monitoring

  • Baseline and regular CBC and electrolytes (including magnesium)
  • Baseline and regular renal and liver function tests
  • Clinical toxicity assessment (including infection, bleeding, neurologic, ototoxiciy, musculoskeletal pain, hypersensitivity, lethargy, GI, cutaneous effects, ophthalmic, cardiac, reespiratory, thromboembolism); at each visit
  • Grade toxicity using the current NCI-CTCAE (Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events) version


back to top
 
J - Administrative Information

Approximate Patient Visit
2 to 3 hours
Pharmacy Workload (average time per visit)
35.656 minutes
Nursing Workload (average time per visit)
59.167 minutes
 
K - References

Carboplatin, docetaxel drug monograph, Cancer Care Ontario.

Fossella F, Pereira J, von Pawel J, et al. Randomized, multinational, phase III study of docetaxel plus platinum combinations versus vinorelbine plus cisplatin for advanced non-small-cell lung cancer: The TAX 326 study group. JCO 21(16): 3016-3024, 2003.


August 2021 Modified Rationale and Uses section


back to top
 
L - Other Notes

There is no convincing evidence that any new agent (gemcitabine, vinorelbine, docetaxel, paclitaxel, irinotecan, pemetrexed) in combination with platinum is superior to any other platinum plus new agent combination.

For patients receiving platinum-based doublet therapy, a recommendation in favour of cisplatin over carboplatin is made based on a probable modest improvement in survival and an improvement in response. Cisplatin regimens result in more frequent nausea/vomiting and nephropathy, while thrombocytopenia is worse with carboplatin. Given the poor prognosis in this population, the relative toxicities and QOL differences should be given strong consideration.

 

Calvert Formula

  DOSE (mg) = target AUC X (GFR + 25)

  • AUC = product of serum concentration (mg/mL) and time (min)
  • GFR (glomerular filtration rate) expressed as measured Creatinine Clearance or estimated from Serum Creatinine (by Cockcroft and Gault method or Jelliffe method)

(Calvert AH, Newell DR, Gumbrell LA, et al, Carboplatin dosage: Prospective evaluation of a simple formula based on renal function. J Clin Oncol, 1989; 7: 1748-1756)

 
M - Disclaimer

Regimen Abstracts
A Regimen Abstract is an abbreviated version of a Regimen Monograph and contains only top level information on usage, dosing, schedule, cycle length and special notes (if available). It is intended for healthcare providers and is to be used for informational purposes only. It is not intended to constitute or be a substitute for medical advice, and all uses of the Regimen Abstract are subject to clinical judgment. Such information is provided on an “as-is” basis, without any representation, warranty, or condition, whether express, or implied, statutory or otherwise, as to the information’s quality, accuracy, currency, completeness, or reliability, and Cancer Care Ontario disclaims all liability for the use of this information, and for any claims, actions, demands or suits that arise from such use.
Information in regimen abstracts is accurate to the extent of the ST-QBP regimen master listings, and has not undergone the full review process of a regimen monograph.  Full regimen monographs will be published for each ST-QBP regimen as they are developed.
Regimen Monographs
Refer to the New Drug Funding Program or Ontario Public Drug Programs websites for the most up-to-date public funding information.
The information set out in the drug monographs, regimen monographs, appendices and symptom management information (for health professionals) contained in the Drug Formulary (the "Formulary") is intended for healthcare providers and is to be used for informational purposes only. The information is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, drug interactions or adverse effects of a particular drug, nor should it be construed to indicate that use of a particular drug is safe, appropriate or effective for a given condition. The information in the Formulary is not intended to constitute or be a substitute for medical advice and should not be relied upon in any such regard. All uses of the Formulary are subject to clinical judgment and actual prescribing patterns may not follow the information provided in the Formulary.
The format and content of the drug monographs, regimen monographs, appendices and symptom management information contained in the Formulary will change as they are reviewed and revised on a periodic basis. The date of last revision will be visible on each page of the monograph and regimen. Since standards of usage are constantly evolving, it is advised that the Formulary not be used as the sole source of information. It is strongly recommended that original references or product monograph be consulted prior to using a chemotherapy regimen for the first time.
Some Formulary documents, such as the medication information sheets, regimen information sheets and symptom management information (for patients), are intended for patients. Patients should always consult with their healthcare provider if they have questions regarding any information set out in the Formulary documents.
While care has been taken in the preparation of the information contained in the Formulary, such information is provided on an “as-is” basis, without any representation, warranty, or condition, whether express, or implied, statutory or otherwise, as to the information’s quality, accuracy, currency, completeness, or reliability.
CCO and the Formulary’s content providers shall have no liability, whether direct, indirect, consequential, contingent, special, or incidental, related to or arising from the information in the Formulary or its use thereof, whether based on breach of contract or tort (including negligence), and even if advised of the possibility thereof. Anyone using the information in the Formulary does so at his or her own risk, and by using such information, agrees to indemnify CCO and its content providers from any and all liability, loss, damages, costs and expenses (including legal fees and expenses) arising from such person’s use of the information in the Formulary.