DOCETAXEL (TAXOTERE) IN ADVANCED RENAL-CELL CANCER - A PHASE-II TRIALOF THE EORTC EARLY CLINICAL-TRIALS GROUP

Docetaxel (Taxotere), an analogue of paclitaxel, was tested in a phase II study in advanced renal cell carcinoma, Consenting patients with m easurable lesions, adequate organ functions and no prior chemotherapy received 100 mg/m(2) of docetaxel as a 1-h infusion every 3 weeks. No premedication to avoid hypersensitivity reactions or nausea and emesis was given. 32 eligible patients received 100 treatment cycles. Short- lasting neutropenia was the dose-limiting toxicity. Acute hypersensiti vity reactions (HSR), oedema and skin changes were other important sid e-effects. HSRs regressed spontaneously or were treated with antihista mines with or without corticosteroids. One partial remission was docum ented. At the dose and schedule used, docetaxel has only low activity against renal cell carcinoma.