Improved control of nausea and emesis with a new bromazepam-containing ondansetron regimen in ovarian cancer patients receiving chemotherapy with carboplatin and cyclophosphamide.
BACKGROUND
Ondansetron was found to be effective as an antiemetic in numerous clinical trials of highly emetogenic combination-chemotherapy regimens that included cisplatin. Its role in milder emetogenic regimes has not been fully defined.


METHODS
This study investigated the efficacy of two different antiemetic regimes in thirty-five patients with ovarian cancer receiving 68 cycles of chemotherapy with carboplatin (350 mg/m2) and cyclophosphamide (600 mg/m2). Ondansetron (3 x 8 mg i.v.) was compared to a bromazepam-containing ondansetron regimen.


RESULTS
Nausea was absent in 65% of chemotherapy courses in patients receiving the combination of ondansetron and bromazepam and in 38% of chemotherapy courses in patients receiving ondansetron alone. Complete control of emesis was achieved in 93% of the courses in patients receiving the combination and in 81% of the courses using ondansetron alone.


CONCLUSIONS
The addition of bromazepam to ondansetron, and the extension of antiemetic prophylaxis to the day before and the day after chemotherapy improves the control of nausea and emesis compared to ondansetron monotherapy in patients with ovarian cancer.
Meden
H
H
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Göttingen, Germany.
Meissner
O
O
Conrad
A
A
Kuhn
W
W
D000932:Antiemetics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001960:Bromazepam / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002945:Cisplatin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D003520:Cyclophosphamide / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D004573:Electrolytes / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009325:Nausea / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000517:prevention & control*; D017294:Ondansetron / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D010051:Ovarian Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D014839:Vomiting / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000517:prevention & control*
D000932:Antiemetics; D004573:Electrolytes; D017294:Ondansetron; D003520:Cyclophosphamide; D002945:Cisplatin; D001960:Bromazepam