title: Urinary 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid (5-HIAA) excretion during multiple-day high-dose chemotherapy.
abstract: Highly emetogenic drugs such as cisplatin induce an increase in the urinary 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid (5-HIAA) level, the main metabolite of serotonin (5-HT), within the first 24 h following a single infusion, thus providing a possible cause for acute emesis and an explanation for the action of 5-HT3 antagonists. No further excretion peaks have been observed, suggesting that additional or serotonin-independent mechanisms cause delayed emesis. Our aim was to study the mechanisms behind emesis seen during a highly emetogenic chemotherapy regimen given as a continuous infusion over several days. Seven women treated with a 4-day high-dose chemotherapy (HDCT) regimen for breast cancer entered the study. Pooled urine samples were collected prior to and during chemotherapy for determining 5-HIAA excretion. An excretion peak in the urinary 5-HIAA level was observed within the first 24 h with no further peaks thereafter. Thus, the mechanisms behind the emesis experienced during this highly emetogenic multiple-day chemotherapy regimen from days 2-3 onwards would appear to be at least partially serotonin independent and would not be expected to be completely relieved by 5-HT3 antagonists alone.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oncology, Helsinki University Hospital, Finland.
authors.forename: R J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Janes
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Muhonen
authors.forename: U P
authors.initials: UP
authors.lastname: Karjalainen
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Wiklund
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000932:Antiemetics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000009:adverse effects*; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000652:urine*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006897:Hydroxyindoleacetic Acid / Q000652:urine*; D009325:Nausea / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000652:urine; D014839:Vomiting / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000652:urine
chemical_list: D000932:Antiemetics; D006897:Hydroxyindoleacetic Acid