Docetaxel (Taxotere)

Raw research findings for this medication. Mostly single studies, not curated or confirmed robust.

About Docetaxel

What it is

Docetaxel is a taxane chemotherapy medicine: it stabilises the microtubules that pull chromosomes apart during cell division, so dividing cancer cells get stuck and die. It is given by drip for breast, prostate, lung, stomach and head and neck cancers. It is sold as Taxotere, among other names.

How genes come into it

Docetaxel is broken down mainly by CYP3A4 and CYP3A5 and carried by transporters such as ABCB1 and SLCO1B3, and studies have looked at these genes for blood levels and side effects. Others have looked at genes linked to how well it works, such as CHST3, VEGFA and CASP7. The findings come from single or a few studies, and there is no CPIC or DPWG guideline.

What research found

Every published finding on gene variants and Docetaxel. Upload your DNA file to see which of these rows apply to you.

Rated evidence (81 rated variants)

PharmGKB weighs all studies of a variant and rates how strong the evidence is, from 1A (strongest) to 4.

CYP3A4 rs2740574: Level 3. Toxicity, Metabolism/PK: Neoplasms. 4.

SLCO1B3 rs11045585: Level 3. Toxicity: Neoplasms. 2.

ABCC2 rs12762549: Level 3. Toxicity, Metabolism/PK. 2.

VEGFA rs1570360: Level 3. Efficacy: Breast Neoplasms. 2.

Metabolism (9 findings)

Studies of how quickly the body processes this medication.

rs4842198: Allele G is associated with increased metabolism of docetaxel in people with Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms.

CYP3A4 rs2740574: Allele C is associated with increased clearance of docetaxel in people with Neoplasms as compared to allele T.

CYP3A5 rs776746: Allele T is associated with increased clearance of docetaxel in people with Neoplasms as compared to allele C.

ORM2 rs2250242: Genotype AA is associated with increased clearance of docetaxel in men with Prostatic Neoplasms as compared to genotypes AG + GG.

Response (67 findings)

Studies of how well it worked in people carrying a variant.

AKR1C3 rs1937840: Genotype GG is associated with increased response to docetaxel and doxorubicin in women with Breast Neoplasms as compared to genotypes CC + CG.

BARD1 rs2070096: Allele A is associated with decreased response to carboplatin, docetaxel and trastuzumab in women with Breast Neoplasms.

CASP7 rs12415607: Genotypes AA + AC are associated with increased response to docetaxel, gemcitabine, paclitaxel, Platinum compounds or vinorelbine in people with Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung as compared to genotype CC.

CASP7 rs2227310: Genotypes CG + GG are associated with increased response to docetaxel, gemcitabine, paclitaxel, Platinum compounds or vinorelbine in people with Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung as compared to genotype CC.

Study findings and evidence levels: PharmGKB (CC BY-SA 4.0). Guidelines: CPIC and DPWG, as bundled in PharmCAT. Most studies were done mainly in people of European ancestry.

Related Drugs

More drugs from the same category

Taxanes (class) (Taxanes)

Taxol (Taxanes)

5-FU (Antimetabolites)

Not a prescribing recommendation. This page is educational information about pharmacogenomic research and clinical guidelines - it is not medical or dosing advice, and not a prediction of how any medication will work for you. Never start, stop, or change a medication or dose based on it; talk to your doctor or pharmacist, who can order clinical-grade testing if appropriate.

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Content updated September 2026.

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