Cabazitaxel

• Concentrate and solvent for solution for infusion 60mg/1.5ml

Notes

1. NICE TA391: Cabazitaxel (Jevtana) in combination with prednisone or prednisolone is recommended as an option for treating metastatic hormone-relapsed prostate cancer in people whose disease has progressed during or after docetaxel chemotherapy (May 2016), only if
   1. the person has an eastern cooperative oncology group (ECOG) performance status of 0 or 1
   2. the person has had 225mg/m² or more of docetaxel
   3. treatment with cabazitaxel is stopped when the disease progresses or after a maximum of 10 cycles (whichever happens first)
   4. the company provides cabazitaxel according to the commercial arrangement.
2. MHRA Drug Safety Update (November 2013): Cabazitaxel (Jevtana): risk of medication error resulting in overdose.

Docetaxel

• Solution for infusion 10mg/1ml, 20mg/1ml

Notes

1. NICE TA101: Docetaxel is recommended as a treatment option for men with hormone-refractory metastatic prostate cancer only if their Karnofsky performance-status score is 60% or more (June 2006)
   1. It is recommended that treatment with docetaxel should be stopped:
      1. at the completion of planned treatment of up to 10 cycles, or
      2. if severe adverse events occur, or
      3. in the presence of progression of disease as evidenced by clinical or laboratory criteria, or by imaging studies.
   2. Repeat cycles of treatment with docetaxel are not recommended if the disease recurs after completion of the planned course of chemotherapy.
2. NICE TA509: Pertuzumab (Perjeta), in combination with trastuzumab and docetaxel, is recommended, within its marketing authorisation, for treating HER2‑positive metastatic or locally recurrent unresectable breast cancer, in adults who have not had previous anti‑HER2 therapy or chemotherapy for their metastatic disease, only if the company provides pertuzumab within the agreed commercial access arrangement (March 2018).

Paclitaxel

• Solution for infusion vials 30mg/5ml, 100mg/16.7ml, 150mg/25ml, 300mg/50ml

Notes

1. NICE TA55: Paclitaxel is recommended, in combination with a platinum-based compound or platinum-based therapy alone (cisplatin or carboplatin), for first-line chemotherapy (usually following surgery) in the treatment of ovarian cancer (January 2003).
2. NICE TA284: Bevacizumab (Avastin) in combination with paclitaxel and carboplatin is not recommended for first-line treatment of advanced ovarian cancer (International Federation of Gynaecology and Obstetrics [FIGO] stages IIIB, IIIC and IV epithelial ovarian, fallopian tube or primary peritoneal cancer) (May 2013).
3. NICE TA389: Paclitaxel in combination with platinum or as monotherapy is recommended as an option for treating recurrent ovarian cancer (April 2016).
4. MHRA Drug Safety Update (January 2022): Paclitaxel formulations (conventional and nab-paclitaxel): caution required due to potential for medication error.
   1. Compared with conventional formulations, paclitaxel medicines formulated as albumin bound nanoparticles (nab-paclitaxel; brand names Abraxane, Pazenir) have different authorised indications, pharmacokinetics, dosages, and preparation and administration instructions.
   2. Conventional paclitaxel and nab-paclitaxel formulations are not interchangeable.
   3. Make a clear distinction between paclitaxel formulations when prescribing, dispensing, administering, and communicating about these medicines – use of brand names is advised for nab-paclitaxel formulations.
   4. Verify the product name and dose before administration and ensure the specific SmPC instructions are followed for preparation and administration.

Abraxane

(Paclitaxel as albumin-bound nanoparticles [nab-paclitaxel])

• Powder for suspension for infusion vials 100mg (as albumin-bound nanoparticles)

Notes

1. Prescribe albumin-bound paclitaxel (nab-paclitaxel) by brand (see note 3)
2. NICE TA476: Paclitaxel as albumin-bound nanoparticles (nab paclitaxel; Abraxane) with gemcitabine is recommended as an option for untreated metastatic adenocarcinoma of the pancreas in adults (September 2017), only if:
   1. other combination chemotherapies are unsuitable and they would otherwise have gemcitabine monotherapy and
   2. the company provides nab‑paclitaxel with the discount agreed in the patient access scheme.
3. MHRA Drug Safety Update (January 2022): Paclitaxel formulations (conventional and nab-paclitaxel): caution required due to potential for medication error.
   1. Compared with conventional formulations, paclitaxel medicines formulated as albumin bound nanoparticles (nab-paclitaxel; brand names Abraxane, Pazenir) have different authorised indications, pharmacokinetics, dosages, and preparation and administration instructions.
   2. Conventional paclitaxel and nab-paclitaxel formulations are not interchangeable.
   3. Make a clear distinction between paclitaxel formulations when prescribing, dispensing, administering, and communicating about these medicines – use of brand names is advised for nab-paclitaxel formulations.
   4. Verify the product name and dose before administration and ensure the specific SmPC instructions are followed for preparation and administration.