title: The antiemetic efficacy of granisetron plus dexamethasone, haloperidol and loracepam in breast cancer patients treated with high-dose chemotherapy with peripheral blood stem-cell support.
abstract: There has recently been a marked trend to increasing dose intensity in cancer chemotherapy, with or without peripheral blood stem-cell support, which has been associated with a higher frequency of nausea and vomiting. Antiemetic treatment in this setting has not been extensively analysed. From October 1995 to January 1997, prevention of emesis with granisetron 3 mg/12 h i.v., dexamethasone 12 mg/24 h i.v., haloperidol 0.5 mg/12 h p.o., and loracepam I mg/24 h p.o. was instituted in 30 breast cancer patients treated with high-dose chemotherapy (a 4-day intravenous continuous infusion of cyclophosphamide 1500 mg/m2 per day, thio-TEPA 125 mg/m2 per day and carboplatin 200 mg/m2 per day).A total of 30% of the patients (9/30) obtained complete or major protection on the 4 days of chemotherapy treatment (96.7% (29/30) on day 1, 86.7% (26/30) on day 2, 70% (21/30) on day 3, and 50% (15/30) on day 4). On the days following chemotherapy, 46.7% (14/30) presented fewer than two emetic episodes on day 5, 70% (21/30) on day 6, 83.4% (25/30) on day 7 and, 93.3% (28/30) on day 8. This energic antiemetic combination treatment has hardly any effect in the prevention of emesis, providing complete or major protection of 30% for the 4 days of chemotherapy treatment. Further investigation aimed at improving antiemetic treatment results is necessary.
authors.affiliation: Servicio Oncología Médica, Instituto Valenciano de Oncología, Valencia, Spain.
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Climent
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Palau
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ruiz
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Soriano
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Aznar
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Olmos
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Guillem
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000932:Antiemetics / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*; D003907:Dexamethasone / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D017829:Granisetron / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D006220:Haloperidol / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D018380:Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation; D006801:Humans; D008140:Lorazepam / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D008875:Middle Aged; D009325:Nausea / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy; D010166:Palliative Care; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014839:Vomiting / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy*
chemical_list: D000932:Antiemetics; D003907:Dexamethasone; D017829:Granisetron; D006220:Haloperidol; D008140:Lorazepam