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Systemic Anti-Cancer Therapy Regimen Library

SKIN SQCC Metastatic - cARBOplatin and PACLItaxel

Treatment Overview

Usually 4–6 cycles unless disease progression or unacceptable toxicity.

Cycles 1 to 6 - 21 days

Cycle length:
21

Cycle details

Cycles 1 to 6 - 21 days

Medication Dose Route Days Max Duration
dexamethasone * 20 mg oral administration 0
aprepitant 125 mg oral administration 1
aprepitant 80 mg oral administration 2, 3
dexamethasone * 12 mg oral administration 1
dexamethasone * 8 mg oral administration 2, 3
ondansetron 8 mg oral administration 1
loratadine * 10 mg oral administration 1
famotidine * 20 mg oral administration 1
PACLItaxel * 175 mg/m² intravenous 1 3 hours
cARBOplatin * 5 AUC (area under the curve) intravenous 1 60 minutes
ondansetron 8 mg oral administration 1
domperidone 10 mg Three times daily oral administration 1

Full details

Cycles 1 to 6 - 21 days

Day: 0

Medication Dose Route Max duration Details
dexamethasone * 20 mg oral administration
Instructions:

Take the night prior to PACLItaxel infusion with food.

  • If the initial infusion(s) of PACLItaxel are well tolerated, clinicians may decide at their discretion, to omit this dose.

Day: 1

Medication Dose Route Max duration Details
aprepitant 125 mg oral administration
Instructions:
ONE hour prior to chemotherapy.
dexamethasone * 12 mg oral administration
Instructions:

ONE hour prior to chemotherapy with food.

ondansetron 8 mg oral administration
Instructions:
ONE hour prior to chemotherapy.
loratadine * 10 mg oral administration
Instructions:
ONE hour prior to PACLItaxel infusion.
famotidine * 20 mg oral administration
Instructions:

ONE hour prior to PACLItaxel infusion.

  • Do not take indigestion remedies, iron or calcium preparations within 2 hours of taking this medicine.
PACLItaxel * 175 mg/m² intravenous 3 hours
Instructions:
  • Prepare solution in PVC-free bag and administer via polyethylene lined administration set with an in-line filter of 0.22 microns or less in size.
  • Please carry out graded challenge as per institutional policy.
cARBOplatin * 5 AUC (area under the curve) intravenous 60 minutes
Instructions:
Hypersensitivity risk increases with number of cycles of cARBOplatin.
ondansetron 8 mg oral administration
Instructions:
EIGHT hours after chemotherapy OR before bed.
domperidone 10 mg Three times daily oral administration
Instructions:

When required for nausea and/or vomiting.

  • The choice of rescue antiemetic may be substituted to reflect institutional policy or individual patient characteristics.

Day: 2

Medication Dose Route Max duration Details
aprepitant 80 mg oral administration
Instructions:
ONCE daily in the morning.
dexamethasone * 8 mg oral administration
Instructions:

ONCE daily in the morning with food.

Dose and duration may be individualised at clinician’s discretion.

Day: 3

Medication Dose Route Max duration Details
aprepitant 80 mg oral administration
Instructions:
ONCE daily in the morning.
dexamethasone * 8 mg oral administration
Instructions:

ONCE daily in the morning with food.

Dose and duration may be individualised at clinician’s discretion.

Supportive Care Factors

Factor Value
Emetogenicity: High
Hypersensitivity / Infusion related reaction risk: High - routine premedication recommended

Regimen details sometimes vary slightly from the published literature after recommendation by expert committee consensus.

* The medicines, doses, combinations, and schedule in this treatment regimen have been carefully reviewed against international best practice guidelines by specialists in medical oncology around New Zealand and this advice has been accepted for publication by Te Aho o Te Kahu (the Cancer Control Agency). Sometimes medicines that are used in routine clinical practice have not been through a formal review process by the NZ Medicines Regulator Medsafe and are therefore considered unapproved or off-label. These medicines are legally able to be prescribed through sections 25 and 29 of the Medicines Act and by obtaining informed consent from patients. All treatment regimens listed on this website have been through robust peer review and are considered an accepted standard of care, whether prescribed through sections 25 or 29 or carrying formal Medsafe Approval.

s29: This symbol indicates that some formulations of the associated medicine are legally only able to be prescribed under section 29 of the Medicines Act. You can see which formulations are section 29 by hovering over the s29 symbol. You can access full medication details from the New Zealand Formulary by clicking on the medication name. Each clinician retains full responsibility for ensuring they have complied with all relevant obligations and requirements of section 29 including obtaining informed patient consent prior to prescribing the applicable medicine.