title: New therapies for antiemetic prophylaxis for chemotherapy.
abstract: A number of new advances have occurred over the past 2 years in the management of chemotherapy-related nausea and vomiting (CINV). A new neurokinin-1 receptor antagonist (NK1RA), netupitant, has been combined with palonosetron in a single oral tablet for treating the effects of moderately emetogenic chemotherapy (MEC) and highly emetogenic chemotherapy (HEC). Rolapitant, another NK1RA, unlike aprepitant, has a long half-life and does not block CYP-3A4 and therefore has fewer drug interactions. Olanzapine reduces nausea more effectively than aprepitant in patients who are receiving HEC and is a better rescue antiemetic than is metoclopramide. Ginger lacks efficacy as an antiemetic agent for CINV. Although there was some evidence in a pilot study of gabapentin as an antiemetic, it was no better in reducing CINV than was placebo. Compliance to guidelines in multiple settings ranges from 50%-60% but is improved by computerized order entry of antiemetics and recommendations displayed with chemotherapy.
authors: Cleveland Clinic Lerner School of Medicine, Case Western Reserve University, and Taussig Cancer Institute, The Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, Ohio, USA. davism6@ccf.org.
authors: Mellar P
authors: MP
authors: Davis
keywords: antiemetic; chemotherapy; nausea; vomiting