Overview

Beizray is approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of breast cancer. It is indicated as a single agent for locally advanced or metastatic breast cancer after failure of previous chemotherapy, and in combination with doxorubicin and cyclophosphamide as adjuvant (add-on) treatment for operable node-positive breast cancer. Beizray is also known by its drug name, docetaxel.

Beizray belongs to a class of drugs called microtubule inhibitors. It works by interfering with the normal function of microtubules (structures needed for cell division), thereby preventing the growth and spread of cancer cells.

How do I take it?

Prescribing information states that Beizray is given as an intravenous (IV) infusion over one hour every three weeks. For locally advanced or metastatic breast cancer, it is given as a single agent after other chemotherapy has failed. For adjuvant treatment of operable node-positive breast cancer, Beizray is given in combination with doxorubicin and cyclophosphamide, starting one hour after these drugs, every three weeks for six cycles. People taking this medication are premedicated with oral corticosteroids to reduce the risk of side effects. Beizray should be administered exactly as prescribed by a healthcare provider.

Side effects

Common side effects of Beizray include infections, neutropenia (low white blood cell count), anemia (low red blood cell count), febrile neutropenia (fever with low white blood cell count), hypersensitivity (allergic reactions), thrombocytopenia (low platelet count), neuropathy (nerve problems), dysgeusia (altered taste), dyspnea (shortness of breath), constipation, anorexia (loss of appetite), nail disorders, fluid retention (swelling), asthenia (weakness), pain, nausea, diarrhea, vomiting, mucositis (mouth sores), alopecia (hair loss), skin reactions, and myalgia (muscle pain).

Rare but serious side effects may include toxic deaths, severe hepatotoxicity (liver damage), severe neutropenia (dangerously low white blood cell count), severe hypersensitivity reactions including fatal anaphylaxis, severe fluid retention, second primary malignancies (cancers, such as acute myeloid leukemia, myelodysplastic syndrome, non-Hodgkin lymphoma, and renal cancer), severe cutaneous (skin) reactions, severe neurologic reactions (such as paresthesia, dysesthesia, and severe pain), eye disorders (such as cystoid macular edema), severe asthenia, embryo-fetal toxicity (harm to unborn babies), central nervous system effects due to alcohol content, tumor lysis syndrome (a metabolic complication), and a theoretical risk of viral transmission from the albumin in the infusion solution.

For more information about this treatment, visit:

Label: Beizray — Docetaxel Injection, Solution — DailyMed