Low-dose oral granisetron (1 mg) plus intravenous dexamethasone: efficacy in gynecologic cancer patients receiving carboplatin-based chemotherapy.
OBJECTIVE
The objective of this study was to determine the efficacy of a low-dose oral granisetron plus intravenous dexamethasone prophylactic antiemetic regimen in patients receiving carboplatin-based chemotherapy.


METHODS
Patients with gynecologic malignancies being treated with either single-agent carboplatin or a carboplatin-paclitaxel regimen received a single 1-mg oral dose of granisetron 30 min prior to chemotherapy plus intravenous dexamethasone (20 mg) as prophylaxis for emesis. Patients either had not previously been treated with chemotherapy or had not received any cytotoxic drugs for >/=4 months prior to study entry. Effectiveness was evaluated based on the degree of control of nausea and vomiting during the 24 h following treatment.


RESULTS
Of the 32 patients participating in this phase 2 trial, only 2 (6%) experienced any degree of nausea or vomiting within the first 24 h of chemotherapy administration. Both of these individuals had carcinomatosis and were experiencing emesis prior to chemotherapy. One patient developed mild delayed nausea >24 h after treatment. No major or minor toxic effects of the antiemetic regimen observed.


CONCLUSIONS
A 1-mg dose of oral granisetron plus intravenous dexamethasone (20 mg) is a safe, effective, and relatively inexpensive prophylactic antiemetic regimen for patients receiving single-agent carboplatin or combination carboplatin-paclitaxel chemotherapy.
Markman
M
M
Department of Gynecology/Obstetrics, Department of Hematology/Medical Oncology, The Cleveland Clinic Foundation, 9500 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland, Ohio 44195, USA.
Kennedy
A
A
Webster
K
K
Kulp
B
B
Peterson
G
G
Belinson
J
J
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000932:Antiemetics / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage; D016190:Carboplatin / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D003907:Dexamethasone / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D005833:Genital Neoplasms, Female / Q000188:drug therapy*; D017829:Granisetron / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D006801:Humans; D007275:Injections, Intravenous; D008875:Middle Aged; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014839:Vomiting / Q000517:prevention & control*
D000932:Antiemetics; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D016190:Carboplatin; D003907:Dexamethasone; D017829:Granisetron