Tropisetron in the prevention of acute nausea and vomiting in patients treated with high dose epirubicin
Date
1998Author
Nikolaides, C.Giannakakis, T.
Skarlos, Dimosthenis V.
Athanasiades, A.
Fountzilas, George
Damigos, D.

Source
Journal of Experimental and Clinical Cancer ResearchVolume
17Issue
1Pages
71-76Google Scholar check
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Show full item recordAbstract
Tropisetron is a novel selective antagonist of the type-3 serotonin (5- HT3) receptor, with proven efficacy in the control of emesis related to cancer treatment. Epirubicin in doses of >100 mg/m2 has a high emetogenic potential. This study was designed to determine whether a single intravenous administration of tropisetron could prevent acute nausea and vomiting in patients treated with high dose epirubicin. Forty chemotherapy naive breast cancer patients treated with epirubicin at a dose of 110 mg/m2 on an outpatient basis were enrolled in the study. Tropisetron 5 mg i.v. was used as antiemetic prophylaxis. 'On demand' treatment with tropisetron 5 mg p.os was used for the rescue of patients who failed on the initial iv dose. Complete control of acute nausea and vomiting had 62.5% (95% C.1.47.2 - 77.8), partial control 15% (95% C.1.3.8-26.2) and 22.5% (95% C.1. 9.3-35.7) insufficient control or failure. Headache was the most common adverse event reported in 3 patients (7.5%) and constipation in 2 patients (5%). Interestingly, patients with a negative experience of nausea and vomiting during pregnancy and those treated for metastatic disease, had a better control of chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting. In conclusion, a single 5 mg i.v. dose of tropisetron is safe and effective in preventing acute emesis in patients treated with high dose epirubicin.