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.
FEC-D; FEC-D+TRAS
Adjuvant
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.
Neo-adjuvant or adjuvant treatment for node-positive and high risk node-negative early breast cancer.
Trastuzumab may be used concurrently with docetaxel or after completion of docetaxel in HER-2 positive breast cancer.
trastuzumab
New Drug Funding Program
(Trastuzumab (Biosimilar) - Adjuvant Treatment for Breast Cancer)
(NDFP Website)
Note: Different trastuzumab products are not interchangeable.
FEC100: (x 3 cycles)
fluorouracil
(Round to nearest 25mg) | 500 mg /m² | IV | Day 1 |
EPIrubicin
(Round to nearest 1mg) | 100 mg /m² | IV | Day 1 |
cyclophosphamide
(Round to nearest 10mg) | 500 mg /m² | IV | Day 1 |
THEN
DOCETAXEL: (x 3 cycles)
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DOCEtaxel
(Round to nearest 1mg) | 100 mg /m² | IV | Day 1 |
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trastuzumab | |||
Refer to TRAS (Breast - Adjuvant) regimen for details. |
REPEAT EVERY 21 DAYS
FEC100 X 3 cycles then docetaxel for 3 cycles
Trastuzumab: Refer to TRAS (Breast - Adjuvant) regimen for details.
High (FEC)
Low (docetaxel)
High
Consider G-CSF prophylaxis for patients at high risk of febrile neutropenia. See G-CSF recommendations.
Other Supportive Care:
- Dexamethasone 8 mg bid po for 3 days starting 1 day prior to docetaxel (prevent anaphylaxis / fluid retention.)
- Consider filgrastim as primary prophylaxis for febrile neutropenia, especially during cycles 4 to 6 of FEC-D.
- Trastuzumab: Refer to Trastuzumab drug monograph for full details.
Patients should be tested for DPD deficiency before starting treatment with fluorouracil. Refer to the DPD Deficiency Guidance for Clinicians for more information.
In patients with unrecognized DPD deficiency, acute, life-threatening toxicity may occur; if grade 2-4 acute toxicity develops, treatment should be stopped immediately and permanent discontinuation considered based on clinical assessment of the toxicities.
Dosage with toxicity
Worst Toxicity Type / Counts x 109/L |
|
Worst Toxicity Type/Counts x 109/L |
Fluorouracil (% of previous dose) |
Epirubicin (% of previous dose) |
Cyclophosphamide (% of previous dose) |
Docetaxel
|
Febrile Neutropenia or Grade 4 ANC ≥ 7 d |
Or |
Thrombocytopenic bleeding |
Hold * then 75% (or Hold* then start GCSF – for low ANC only) |
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Grade 3 rash |
Or |
Grade 3 neurotoxicity |
Not applicable |
*75%. Discontinue if recurs |
||
Other grade 3 organ/ non-hematologic |
|
|
*75% for suspect drug(s). If cardiotoxicity, follow recommendations in epirubicin and docetaxel drug monographs. |
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Grade 4 organ/ non-hematologic |
|
|
Discontinue |
Hepatic Impairment
Consider dose reductions for epirubicin if severe increases in transaminases occur.
AST and/or ALT |
|
Alk Phosphate |
|
Bilirubin |
Docetaxel (% previous) |
Cyclophosphamide (% previous) | Epirubicin (% previous) |
Fluorouracil (% previous) |
> 1.5 x ULN
|
AND |
> 2.5 x ULN |
|
|
Do not treat |
100% |
50% |
--- |
>3.5 X ULN |
OR |
> 6 X ULN |
OR |
2-4 X ULN |
Do not treat Discontinue* if treatment already started. |
Caution |
25-50% |
--- |
|
|
|
|
> 4 X ULN |
Discontinue |
Caution |
Discontinue |
Discontinue |
Renal Impairment
Creatinine Clearance (mL/min)
|
Fluorouracil
|
Epirubicin
|
Cyclophosphamide (% previous dose)
|
Docetaxel
|
>50 | 100% | 100% | 100% | No change |
30 – 50
|
100%
|
100%
|
75% |
No change
|
10 – 30
|
consider dose ↓
|
75% | ||
< 10
|
↓ dose
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50% or OMIT
|
Dosage in the Elderly
Epirubicin and cyclophosphamide should be used with caution; no adjustment required.
For docetaxel, no adjustment required, but caution should be exercised in elderly patients with poor performance status.
For trastuzumab, no adjustment required; the risk of cardiac dysfunction and myelosuppression may be increased in elderly patients. The reported trials did not determine differences in efficacy between patients > 65 years versus younger patients.
Refer to fluorouracil, EPIrubicin, cyclophosphamide, DOCEtaxel, filgrastim (± trastuzumab) drug monograph(s) for additional details of adverse effects
The following adverse effects table is related to FEC-D. Refer to trastuzumab drug monograph for additional details on trastuzumab.
Very common (≥ 50%) |
Common (25-49%) |
Less common (10-24%) |
Uncommon (< 10%), but may be severe or life-threatening |
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|
|
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Refer to fluorouracil, EPIrubicin, cyclophosphamide, DOCEtaxel (± trastuzumab) drug monograph(s) for additional details
Note: Different trastuzumab products are not interchangeable.
See TRAS (Breast - Adjuvant) regimen for details on trastuzumab
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
FEC
- CBC; baseline and before each cycle
- Baseline and regular liver and renal function tests and urinalysis
- Cardiac examination especially with risk factors (including prior therapy with Doxorubicin, Mitoxantrone or other cardiac drug), or a cumulative Epirubicin dose of > 900mg/m2
- Clinical toxicity assessment (including infection, bleeding, GI, thromboembolism, respiratory, cardiotoxicity, local toxicity, cystitis); at each visit
Docetaxel
- CBC, including nadir counts; baseline and at each visit
- Liver function tests; baseline and routine
- Regular clinical assessments of infection, bleeding, neurotoxicity, fluid retention, hypersensitivity, lethargy, cutaneous reactions, thromboembolism, musculoskeletal pain , cardiovascular, ophthalmic, GI or respiratory effects
-
Grade toxicity using the current NCI-CTCAE (Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events) version
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Coudert B, Asselain B, Campone M, et al. Extended benefit from sequential administration of docetaxel after standard fluorouracil, epirubicin, and cyclophosphamide regimen for node-positive breast cancer: the 8-year follow-up results of the UNICANCER-PACS01 trial. Oncologist 2012;17(7):900-9.
Cyclophosphamide, epirubicin, fluorouracil and docetaxel drug monographs, Cancer Care Ontario.
Mardarnas Y, Dent SF, Husain SF, et al. Real-world experience with adjuvant FEC-D chemotherapy in four Ontario regional cancer centres. Current Oncology 2011;18(3):119-25.
Roché H, Fumoleau P, Spielmann M, et al. Sequential adjuvant epirubicin-based and docetaxel chemotherapy for node-positive breast cancer patients: the FNCLCC PACS 01 Trial. JCO 2006; 24(36):5664-71.
April 2023 Updated DPD deficiency information in the Dose Modifications section.
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.
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