Antiemetic effect of ramosetron during hyperthermo-chemo-radiotherapy for esophageal cancer.
BACKGROUND
The antiemetic effects of serotonin receptor antagonists during chemoradiotherapy for solid tumors have never been reported. We have developed hyperthermo-chemo-radiotherapy (HCR) for esophageal cancer. However, with this treatment, the more potent the chemotherapy was, the more frequently emesis was experienced.


METHODS
Fifteen patients with esophageal cancer underwent HCR (6 courses of hyperthermia, cisplatin 20 mg/m2 x 6, 5-FU 300 mg/m2 x 15 and radiation 1.5 Gy x 30). Ramosetron was administered intravenously (0.3 mg x 15). The emesis inhibition rate was defined as the rate of patients having neither vomiting nor severe nausea.


RESULTS
The incidence of patients without nausea gradually decreased to 60% at the end of chemotherapy. However, vomiting was completely avoided except in one patient for two days. The emesis inhibition rates of weeks 1, 2, 3 and 4 were 100.0, 93.3, 89.5 and 95.2%, respectively. The overall inhibition rate was 94.5% and the rate of "well inhibited" was 79.0%. There were no ramosetron-related adverse reactions.


CONCLUSIONS
These findings suggest that ramosetron is a useful antiemetic agent for nausea and vomiting induced by chemoradiotherapy for solid tumors.
Department of Surgery II, Faculty of Medicine, Kyushu University, Fukuoka 812-8582, Japan.
M
M
Morita
H
H
Kuwano
S
S
Ohno
K
K
Kitamura
K
K
Sugimachi
D000368:Aged; D000932:Antiemetics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001562:Benzimidazoles / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000532:radiotherapy / Q000628:therapy*; D002945:Cisplatin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy / Q000009:adverse effects; D004938:Esophageal Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000532:radiotherapy / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D005472:Fluorouracil / Q000008:administration & dosage; D006801:Humans; D006979:Hyperthermia, Induced; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009325:Nausea / Q000517:prevention & control; D011878:Radiotherapy / Q000009:adverse effects; D013997:Time Factors; D014839:Vomiting / Q000517:prevention & control
D000932:Antiemetics; D001562:Benzimidazoles; C071315:ramosetron; D002945:Cisplatin; D005472:Fluorouracil