The development of a protocol for the use of 5-HT3 antagonists in chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting.

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of three 5-HT3 antagonists in routine clinical practice. The ultimate aim was to develop an antiemetic protocol, selecting a single 5-HT3 antagonist. Each of the drugs was studied for a 4-month period and data was collected from patients on nausea, vomiting (both acute and delayed) and side-effects by means of a diary card. A total of 274 patients were enrolled into the study. Success rates for acute emesis seen over the study period were in excess of 90%. There were no statistically significant differences between any of the three drugs investigated with respect to both acute and delayed nausea and vomiting. Similarly, there was no difference between the three groups for the incidence of constipation, diarrhoea and headache. Granisetron demonstrated a lesser deviation from the protocol in respect of the number of intravenous doses given to patients. The study allowed an effective 5-HT3 antagonist protocol to be developed for use in the management of nausea and vomiting in cancer patients.

• Authors: J Watters, M Riley, I Pedley, A Whitehead, M Overend, I Goss, V Allgar
• Journal: Clinical oncology (Royal College of Radiologists (Great Britain)) (Clin Oncol (R Coll Radiol)) Vol. 13 Issue 6 Pg. 422-6 ( 2001) ISSN: 0936-6555 [Print] England
• PMID: 11824878 (Publication Type: Clinical Trial, Comparative Study, Controlled Clinical Trial, Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Indoles
• Receptors, Serotonin
• Receptors, Serotonin, 5-HT3
• Serotonin Antagonists
• Ondansetron
• Tropisetron
• Granisetron

Topics

• Adolescent
• Adult
• Aged
• Aged, 80 and over
• Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols (adverse effects, therapeutic use)
• Clinical Protocols
• Female
• Granisetron (therapeutic use)
• Humans
• Indoles (therapeutic use)
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Nausea (chemically induced, drug therapy)
• Neoplasms (drug therapy)
• Ondansetron (therapeutic use)
• Receptors, Serotonin (drug effects)
• Receptors, Serotonin, 5-HT3
• Serotonin Antagonists (therapeutic use)
• Treatment Outcome
• Tropisetron
• Vomiting (chemically induced, drug therapy)