title: Single-dose palonosetron and dexamethasone in preventing nausea and vomiting induced by moderately emetogenic chemotherapy in breast and colorectal cancer patients.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Palonosetron, a unique second-generation 5-HT3 receptor antagonist, has been demonstrated to control emesis related to chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting (CINV). The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and tolerability of palonosetron followed by a single dose of dexamethasone in patients with breast cancer (BC) or colorectal cancer (CRC) receiving moderate emetogenic chemotherapy (MEC).
  
  
  METHODS
  Chemotherapy-naive BC and CRC patients were given MEC as adjuvant or first-line treatment. Palonosetron (0.25 mg IV) and dexamethasone (8 mg IV) were administered before chemotherapy on day 1. The primary endpoint was complete response (CR; no vomiting and no use of rescue medication) during the overall study period (days 1-5). The antiemetic response was evaluated during the acute (day 1) and delayed (days 2-5) phases.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Sixty-eight patients were enrolled (median age 61 years, 56 females; BC = 40, CRC = 28). CR was observed in 46 of 68 patients (67.6%), while CR during the acute and delayed phases was 75.0% in each cancer group. The antiemetic regimen was well tolerated.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A single administration of palonosetron and dexamethasone on day 1 in BC and CRC patients adequately controls CINV during the entire period of emetic risk.
authors.affiliation: Medical Oncology, Fondazione Foliclinico San Matteo, Pavia, Italy. s.brugnatelli@smatteo.pv.it
authors.forename: Silvia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Brugnatelli
authors.forename: Elisabetta
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Gattoni
authors.forename: Donatella
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Grasso
authors.forename: Franca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Rossetti
authors.forename: Tania
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Perrone
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Danova
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000932:Antiemetics / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects*; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D003907:Dexamethasone / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007546:Isoquinolines / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009325:Nausea / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000517:prevention & control*; D000077924:Palonosetron; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011812:Quinuclidines / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D012702:Serotonin Antagonists / Q000008:administration & dosage; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014839:Vomiting / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000517:prevention & control*
chemical_list: D000932:Antiemetics; D007546:Isoquinolines; D011812:Quinuclidines; D012702:Serotonin Antagonists; D000077924:Palonosetron; D003907:Dexamethasone