Massa, E., Astara, G., Madeddu, C., Dessi, M., Loi, C., Lepori, S., & Mantovani, G. (2009). Palonosetron plus dexamethasone effectively prevents acute and delayed chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting following highly or moderately emetogenic chemotherapy in pre-treated patients who have failed to respond to a previous antiemetic treatment: Comparison between elderly and non-elderly patient response. Critical Reviews in Oncology/Hematology, 70, 83–91.
To determine the effectiveness of palonosetron in prevention of acute and delayed chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting (CINV) for highly emetogenic chemotherapy (HEC) or moderately emetogenic chemotherapy (MEC) in patients who had failed to respond to a different antiemetic 5-HT3 antagonist during the first cycle; to determine differences in response between older adults and younger patients
On day 1, patients received 16 mg dexamethasone plus 250 mcg IV palonosetron before chemotherapy administration. For prophylaxis, patients received 8 mg dexamethasone every 12 hours on days 2–3 and 4 mg dexamethasone every 12 hours on days 4–5. Metoclopramide (20 mg) intramuscular was used at a maximum dose of 80 mg as rescue medication to treat CINV. Patients were asked to record daily episodes of vomiting, nausea, and use of rescue medication daily through day 5.
The setting was not reported.
All patients were in active treatment.
This was a prospective design, phase II, open, nonrandomized trial.
The following were measured.
Single-dose palonosetron (250 mcg) should be considered a safe second generation 5-HT3 antagonist in the prevention of nausea and vomiting induced by HEC or MEC, irrespective of patient age.
Palonosetron provides control of CINV regardless of patient age.