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Systemic Anti-Cancer Therapy Regimen Library

UGI GAST AND OES NON-Metastatic - FLOT [DOCEtaxel, oxaliplatin, foliNIc acid and fluorouracil] [high dose foliNIc acid]

Treatment Overview

8 cycles (4 neoadjuvant and 4 adjuvant).

Cycles 1 to 8 - 14 days

Cycle length:
14

Some centres may wish to replace the three oral doses of dexamethasone 8 mg premedication with a single intravenous dose of dexamethasone 20 mg prior to DOCEtaxel infusion.

Cycle details

Cycles 1 to 8 - 14 days

Medication Dose Route Days Max Duration
dexamethasone * 8 mg Twice daily oral administration 0, 1, 2
ondansetron 8 mg oral administration 1
DOCEtaxel * 50 mg/m² intravenous 1 60 minutes
oxaliplatin * 85 mg/m² intravenous 1 120 minutes
foliNIc acid (as calcium folinate) * 200 mg/m² intravenous 1 120 minutes
fluorouracil * 2600 mg/m² intravenous 1 24 hours Min: 24 hours
ondansetron 8 mg oral administration 1
domperidone 10 mg Three times daily oral administration 1
loperamide 2 mg oral administration 1
pegFILGRASTIM 6 mg subcutaneous injection 3

Some centres may wish to replace the three oral doses of dexamethasone 8 mg premedication with a single intravenous dose of dexamethasone 20 mg prior to DOCEtaxel infusion.

Full details

Cycles 1 to 8 - 14 days

Day: 0

Medication Dose Route Max duration Details
dexamethasone * 8 mg Twice daily oral administration
Instructions:
Take with food.

Day: 1

Medication Dose Route Max duration Details
dexamethasone * 8 mg Twice daily oral administration
Instructions:
Take with food.
ondansetron 8 mg oral administration
Instructions:
ONE hour prior to chemotherapy.
DOCEtaxel * 50 mg/m² intravenous 60 minutes
Instructions:
Prepare solution in PVC-free bag and administer via polyethylene lined administration set. Please carry out graded challenge as per institutional policy.
oxaliplatin * 85 mg/m² intravenous 120 minutes
Instructions:
To run concurrently with foliNIc acid. Usual infusion time of two hours may be extended to up to 6 hours if needed to reduce likelihood and/or severity of adverse reactions. Hypersensitivity risk increases with number of cycles of oxaliplatin.
foliNIc acid (as calcium folinate) * 200 mg/m² intravenous 120 minutes
Instructions:
To run concurrently with oxaliplatin.
fluorouracil * 2600 mg/m² intravenous 24 hours Min: 24 hours
Instructions:
Continuous infusion via pump over 24 hours.
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.
loperamide 2 mg oral administration
Instructions:
Take TWO capsules (=4 mg) at onset of loose bowel motions and a further ONE capsule (=2 mg) for every loose bowel motion (maximum of EIGHT capsules in 24 hours), or use as directed by oncologist or haematologist.

Day: 2

Medication Dose Route Max duration Details
dexamethasone * 8 mg Twice daily oral administration
Instructions:
Take with food.

Day: 3

Medication Dose Route Max duration Details
pegFILGRASTIM 6 mg subcutaneous injection

Supportive Care Factors

Factor Value
Diarrhoea risk: Anti-diarrhoeals are usually prescribed with this treatment
Emetogenicity: Medium
Growth factor support: Recommended for primary prophylaxis
Hypersensitivity / Infusion related reaction risk: High - routine premedication recommended

References

1. Al-Batran, S. E., N. Homann, C. Pauligk, et al. 2019. "Perioperative chemotherapy with fluorouracil plus leucovorin, oxaliplatin, and docetaxel versus fluorouracil or capecitabine plus cisplatin and epirubicin for locally advanced, resectable gastric or gastro-oesophageal junction adenocarcinoma (FLOT4): a randomised, phase 2/3 trial." Lancet 393(10184):1948-1957., PMID: 30982686

2. Pfizer New Zealand Limited. DBL Docetaxel New Zealand Data Sheet 07 August 2020. https://www.medsafe.govt.nz/profs/Datasheet/d/dbldocetaxelinj.pdf (Accessed 26 November 2020).

3. Pharmacy Retailing (NZ) limited t/a Healthcare Logistics. Oxaliplatin Accord New Zealand Data Sheet. https://www.medsafe.govt.nz/profs/Datasheet/o/oxaliccordinf.pdf (Accessed 16 February 2021).

4. Chouhan JD, Herrington JD. "Single premedication dose of dexamethasone 20 mg IV before docetaxel administration." J Oncol Pharm Pract. 2011 Sep;17(3):155-9. Doi: 10.1177/1078155210367950. Epub 2010 May 6. , PMID: 20447949

5. Boulanger J, Boursiquot JN, Cournoyer G, et al. Management of hypersensitivity to platinum- and taxane-based chemotherapy: cepo review and clinical recommendations. Curr Oncol. 2014;21(4):e630-e641., PMID: 25089112

6. Castells, M.C., Matulonis, U.A., and Horton, TM. Infusion reactions to systemic chemotherapy. Savarese DMF and Feldweg AM, ed. UpToDate. Waltham, MA: UpToDate Inc. https://www.uptodate.com (Accessed 26 March 2021)

7. E.S. Rogers, E. Witton, J. Stewart, D. Porter, 1542P - Efficacy and Safety of a Single Dose of Dexamethasone Pre Docetaxel Treatment: the Auckland Experience. Annals of Oncology, Volume 25, Supplement 4, 2014, Page iv537. https://doi.org/10.1093/annonc/mdu356.62.

* 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.