Tropisetron, a new 5-HT3-receptor antagonist, in the prevention of radiation-induced nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea.
Oral tropisetron, a 5-hydroxytryptamine type 3 (serotonin3) [5-HT3]-receptor antagonist, at a dose of 5mg daily was evaluated as antiemetic prophylaxis during postoperative abdominal irradiation. 20 women with International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) stage I to III ovarian carcinoma were included. 12 women received irradiation of whole abdominal fields and 8 of lower abdominal/pelvic fields. Efficacy and adverse events were recorded by the patients in diary-form booklets. The cumulative weekly incidence of patients with nausea, which was generally mild and of short duration, increased from 30% at the start of radiotherapy to 54% at the end of treatment. Episodes of vomiting occurred in less than 10% of the patients. Diarrhoea was common towards the end of the radiotherapy courses, and the proportion of patients needing extra antidiarrhoeal medication (loperamide) increased from 38% during the first week to 100% at the end of the radiotherapy course. Mean weight loss was 1.2kg during the 5- to 6-week course. Overall ratings for quality of life were excellent or good in 75 to 85% of patients. Tropisetron seems to be a promising and well tolerated drug in conjunction with extended radiotherapy of abdominal fields. This was an open study, establishing the methodology for long term follow-up of patients during fractionated radiotherapy.
Sorbe
B
B
Department of Gynecologic Oncology, Orebro Medical Center Hospital, Sweden.
Berglind
A M
AM
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000932:Antiemetics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003967:Diarrhea / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007211:Indoles / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009325:Nausea / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D010051:Ovarian Neoplasms / Q000532:radiotherapy* / Q000601:surgery; D011788:Quality of Life; D011832:Radiation Injuries / Q000517:prevention & control*; D000077526:Tropisetron; D014839:Vomiting / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*
D000932:Antiemetics; D007211:Indoles; D000077526:Tropisetron