Docetaxel secretion in tears: association with lacrimal drainage obstruction.

OBJECTIVE

To test the hypothesis that docetaxel may be secreted in tears after intravenous infusion.

DESIGN

Prospective pilot trial.

PATIENTS AND

METHODS

Tear fluid was collected from 4 patients receiving docetaxel weekly and 2 patients receiving docetaxel every 3 weeks as a single agent for the treatment of metastatic breast cancer. Tear samples were collected once prior to and again within 30 minutes following the end of the 1-hour docetaxel infusion. A blood sample was also obtained after infusion. The tear and plasma samples were analyzed for drug content using high-performance liquid chromatography and tandem mass spectrometry.

RESULTS

Docetaxel was found in the tear samples collected from all 6 patients.

CONCLUSION

The secretion of docetaxel in tears may be a mechanism for canalicular inflammation and tear drainage obstruction, which are known to occur as an adverse effect of the drug.