docetaxel + epirubicin + cyclophosphamide

The combination of docetaxel, epirubicin, and cyclophosphamide (often abbreviated as the TEC regimen) is a chemotherapy protocol primarily used in the treatment of breast cancer. This regimen combines three cytotoxic agents: - Docetaxel is a taxane that promotes microtubule assembly while inhibiting their disassembly, leading to cell cycle arrest and apoptosis. - Epirubicin is an anthracycline that intercalates into DNA and inhibits topoisomerase II, resulting in DNA strand breaks. - Cyclophosphamide is an alkylating agent that crosslinks DNA strands, preventing cell replication. The TEC regimen has been studied as neoadjuvant (pre-surgical) or adjuvant (post-surgical) therapy for locally advanced or high-risk early breast cancer. It has demonstrated significant activity with notable response rates but also carries risks of myelosuppression (notably neutropenia), gastrointestinal toxicity, alopecia, neuropathy, cardiotoxicity (from epirubicin), and other side effects typical for these agents[1][3][6][7].

Brand names

Taxotere (for docetaxel)

Other names

TEC regimendocetaxel/epirubicin/cyclophosphamidedocetaxel plus epirubicin and cyclophosphamide