5-fluorouracil + cyclophosphamide + docetaxel + doxorubicin + epirubicin

This is a multi-agent chemotherapy regimen composed of five cytotoxic drugs: 5-fluorouracil, cyclophosphamide, docetaxel, doxorubicin, and epirubicin. Each component has a distinct mechanism of action targeting rapidly dividing cancer cells. - **5-fluorouracil** is an antimetabolite that inhibits thymidylate synthase, disrupting DNA synthesis. - **Cyclophosphamide** is an alkylating agent that crosslinks DNA strands, leading to cell death. - **Docetaxel** is a taxane that stabilizes microtubules and prevents their depolymerization during mitosis. - **Doxorubicin** and **epirubicin** are anthracyclines; they intercalate into DNA and inhibit topoisomerase II, causing double-strand breaks in DNA. This combination targets multiple pathways essential for tumor cell proliferation and survival. It has been studied primarily as neoadjuvant or adjuvant therapy in breast cancer patients at high risk or with locally advanced disease[1][6]. The regimen aims to maximize tumor response by combining agents with complementary mechanisms while balancing toxicity.

Brand names

Taxotere

Other names

FEC-DFEC-Docetaxel