An Experimental Study on the Widely Used Chemotherapeutic Docetaxel: Does It Induce Inflammation, Ischemia, and Neurodegeneration in the Eye, Causing Dry Eye and Blurred Vision in a Real-Life Scenario?

PURPOSE: Chemotherapy protocols for lung, breast, and prostate cancer include Docetaxel (DTX). Several case series have reported ophthalmic side effects of DTX, such as epiphora and blurred vision, which significantly affect quality of life. This experimental study aims to investigate the potential histopathological impacts of DTX on ocular structures.

METHODS

A DTX-treated group consisting of male Wistar rats aged 6 to 8 months (n = 7) received intraperitoneal administration of 10 mg/kg DTX three times on days 0, 8, and 15. A control group (n = 6) received weekly intraperitoneal injections of physiological saline. On the 22nd day, ocular tissues were evaluated using hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining, along with immunohistochemical analysis of iNOS, eNOS, IL-6, TGF-β, VEGF, and TUNEL markers.

RESULTS

The main outcomes observed through H&E evaluation revealed corneal neovascularization, inflammatory cells with cystic dilatations in the lacrimal gland, and degeneration of the retinal nerve fiber layer. DTX treatment significantly increased the levels of iNOS, eNOS, IL-6, TGF-β, VEGF, and apoptosis markers compared to the control group.

CONCLUSIONS

This experimental study demonstrated that DTX induces inflammation and ischemia in ocular tissues, as shown in histopathological sections. Given the rising incidence of cancer and the related use of chemotherapeutics, it is crucial for ophthalmologists to recognize the ocular side effects of drugs like DTX in order to enhance the quality of life for cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy.