Docetaxel - Number of sessions in SOC

[davebliz]

Docetaxel - Why the difference in SOC between UK and Canada? Apparently the SOC in UK is 10 sessions. It's 6 sessions in Canada (and US, I think). Anyone know why the difference and any trials that show which is most beneficial? Thanks.

[Tall_Allen]

The clinical trial in the UK (STAMPEDE) for docetaxel used it for 6 infusions, as did CHAARTED in the US. 6 infusions is also the SOC in Canada and Europe. Why do you think it's 10? Doctors sometimes increase it to 10 if the patient is responding well and is tolerating the side effects well. That is always up to the doctor and patient.

[davebliz in reply to Tall_Allen]

Thanks for the quick reply. Someone from the UK mentioned that the SOC in UK was 10, obviously wrong.

[Shooter1 in reply to davebliz]

I also had UK folks tell me 10. For me at 6 PN wasn't noticeable, but after 9, which I has, it is permanent.

[Hidden]

As far as I know, here's what has been proven: 6 cycles is beneficial over no cyclces. More than 10 cycles is not any better than 10 cycles. I don't think 6 cycles has been compared to anything over 6 cycles.

[AlanMeyer]

I'm not particularly knowledgeable about this issue but I'll add a bit.

The standard dosage as described by drugs.com is found at:

drugs.com/dosage/docetaxel....

Some docs modify the schedule to 50 mg every two weeks or 25 mg every week - same total drug delivery but different timing. It has been claimed by some studies to be as effective but with less adverse effects. I would guess it has a higher cost of administration.

Alan

[Irun]

I am from the UK , I had 6 cycles .

[Stoneartist]

My oncologist told me that 6 sessions was standard, but that there was really no medical evidence to support that more - or less would be more optimal. I am finding out that dosage is something which hangs largely on what was chosen for clinical trials as mentioned by TA, and we need to go back and evaluate what the optimal dose id in the light of present knowledge.

[Dastardly]

SOC in the UK is 6 cycles of Docetaxel. (I was in the Stampede trial). However, my Onco would have increased that had he found the need. At the end of my chemo my PSA was undetectable - 2 years on it is beginning to creep up though.

[KJMinPhx]

I am confused about verbiage. Tall Allan talks about six “infusions”, you talk about “sessions” and others talk about “cycles”. My Mayo MO talks in terms of cycles, but to him one cycle means 3 infusions, each spaced 3 weeks apart.

I just finished my first cycle - 3 infusions. My MO says he will give as many cycles as the patient will tolerate up to 10 cycles (30 infusions) but he says some patients only tolerate a few cycles and his average is 6 cycles (= 18 infusions).

I have been thinking I’ve got a lot more docetaxel infusions to go, but if Tall Allen is right I may not.

So is the SOC based on number of infusions or on the number of cycles of infusions?

[davebliz in reply to KJMinPhx]

In my case, I refer to infusions and each one is a session. So my SOC is 6 sessions.