[The effect of thalidomide in preventing delayed nausea and vomiting induced by GP regimen of chemotherapy for non-small cell lung cancer].
OBJECTIVE
To observe the effect of thalidomide in preventing nausea and vomiting induced by emetogenic cisplatin (CDDP) chemotherapy in patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer.


METHODS
This study was carried out as a prospective, randomized control clinical trial. 61 patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer were scheduled to receive chemotherapy (gemcitabin 1000 mg/m(2) i.v. gtt d1, 8 and CDDP 75 mg/m(2) i.v. gtt d1, GP regimen). The patients were randomly divided into a treatment and control groups. All patients in both groups received ramosetron 0.3 mg intravenously (i.v.) and metoclopramide 20 mg intramuscularly (i.m.) 30 min prior to chemotherapy to prevent nausea and emesis on day 1. In the treatment group, addition of thalidomide (50 mg p.o. bid) were administered on days 1 to 5 after the start of chemotherapy.


RESULTS
Acute nausea was effectively controlled in 74.2% of the patients in the control group and in 90.0% of treatment group. Acute vomiting was effectively controlled in 90.3% of the patients in the control group and in 93.3% of treatment group. No statistically significant differences showed in effective control of acute nausea and vomiting between the 2 groups (P = 0.108; P = 1.000). Delayed nausea was effectively controlled in 19.4% of the patients in control group and in 56.7% in the treatment group. Delayed vomiting was effectively controlled in 48.4% of the patients in control group and 76.7% in treatment group. Statistically there was a significant differences in effective control of delayed nausea and vomiting between the 2 groups (P = 0.003, P = 0.023). Both antiemetic regimens were well tolerated, and no significant difference was observed in adverse events between the 2 groups (P > 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
Our results demonstrate that thalidomide is highly effective in controlling delayed nausea and vomiting episodes in patients induced by moderately emetogenic chemotherapy. Moreover, no serious toxic effects are induced by this treatment.
Yu
Yun-long
YL
First Affiliated Hospital of Liaoning Medical University, Jinzhou 121001, China.
Zhu
Zhi-Tu
ZT
Li
Jian-peng
JP
Ha
Min-wen
MW
Liu
Xiao-mei
XM
Wu
Qian
Q
Xing
Yong-da
YD
D000932:Antiemetics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002289:Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology; D002945:Cisplatin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D003841:Deoxycytidine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009325:Nausea / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000517:prevention & control*; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013792:Thalidomide / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014839:Vomiting / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000517:prevention & control*; D000093542:Gemcitabine
D000932:Antiemetics; D003841:Deoxycytidine; D013792:Thalidomide; D002945:Cisplatin; D000093542:Gemcitabine