title: Transdermal granisetron.
abstract: Granisetron is a highly selective serotonin 5-HT(3) receptor antagonist for the prevention of chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting. The transdermal granisetron system delivers continuous granisetron (3.1 mg/day) into the systemic circulation (via passive diffusion) for up to 7 days. In a large phase III trial in cancer patients receiving multi-day (3-5 days) moderately or highly emetogenic chemotherapy, transdermal granisetron applied 24-48 hours prior to chemotherapy and remaining in place for 7 days was noninferior to oral granisetron 2 mg once daily administered for 3-5 days 1 hour prior to chemotherapy. Efficacy was assessed according to the proportion of patients achieving complete response (no vomiting and/or retching, no more than mild nausea, no rescue medication) from the first day, until 24 hours after the start of the last day, of administration of the chemotherapy regimen. In a phase II trial in patients with cancer receiving single-day, moderately-emetogenic chemotherapy, transdermal granisetron applied at least 24 hours prior to chemotherapy and removed after 5 days was as effective as a single oral dose of granisetron 2 mg in achieving total control (no nausea, no vomiting/retching, no use of rescue medication and no study withdrawal) during the delayed (24-120 hours; primary endpoint) period after chemotherapy. Transdermal granisetron was generally well tolerated in clinical trials, with few adverse events being treatment related.
authors: Adis, a Wolters Kluwer Business, Auckland, New Zealand. demail@adis.co.nz
authors: Sean T
authors: ST
authors: Duggan
authors: Monique P
authors: MP
authors: Curran
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D018906:Antineoplastic Agents, Alkylating / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D017829:Granisetron / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D006801:Humans; D007262:Infusions, Intravenous; D008297:Male; D015394:Molecular Structure; D009325:Nausea / Q000139:chemically induced; D018040:Receptors, Neurokinin-1 / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000276:immunology; D011985:Receptors, Serotonin / Q000187:drug effects; D012074:Remission Induction; D012701:Serotonin / Q000378:metabolism; D012702:Serotonin Antagonists / Q000494:pharmacology*; D017366:Serotonin Receptor Agonists / Q000494:pharmacology*; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D012737:Sex Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014839:Vomiting / Q000139:chemically induced
chemical_list: D018906:Antineoplastic Agents, Alkylating; D017829:Granisetron; D018040:Receptors, Neurokinin-1; D011985:Receptors, Serotonin; D012701:Serotonin; D012702:Serotonin Antagonists; D017366:Serotonin Receptor Agonists