Comparison of Pharmacokinetics and Pharmacodynamics of Docetaxel and Cisplatin in Elderly and Non-Elderly Patients: Why Is Toxicity Increased in Elderly Patients?

Abstract

PurposeFollowing phase I studies of docetaxel and cisplatin in patients with non–small-cell lung cancer, the recommended doses of docetaxel were different for elderly (≥ 75 years) and non-elderly (< 75 years) patients. To elucidate the mechanism of the difference, the pharmacokinetics of docetaxel and cisplatin were investigated in two phase II studies separately conducted in elderly and non-elderly patients.Patients and MethodsTwenty-seven elderly and 25 non-elderly patients were treated with three weekly administrations of docetaxel and cisplatin every 4 weeks. Doses of docetaxel were 20 and 35 mg/m2for elderly and non-elderly patients, respectively. All patients received 25 mg/m2of cisplatin. The pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of docetaxel and cisplatin were compared in elderly and non-elderly patients.ResultsThere were no differences in pharmacokinetics of docetaxel or cisplatin between elderly versus non-elderly patients with regard to clearance and volume of distribution. In the pharmacodynamic analysis, neutropenia was positively correlated with the area under the concentration-time curve for docetaxel but not for cisplatin. In evaluating the relationship between neutropenia and the area under the concentration-time curve of docetaxel, elderly patients experienced greater neutropenia than those predicted by a pharmacodynamic model developed in non-elderly patients; the residual for prediction of the percent change in neutrophil count was −11.2% (95% CI, −21.8 to −0.5%).ConclusionThe pharmacokinetics of docetaxel and unchanged cisplatin were not different between elderly and non-elderly patients. The elderly patients were more sensitive to docetaxel exposure than the non-elderly patients, resulting in the different recommended doses for the phase II studies.