Uchida, M., Ikesue, H., Kato, K., Ichinose, K., Hiraiwa, H., Sakurai, A., … Oishi, R. (2013). Antiemetic effectiveness and safety of aprepitant in patients with hematologic malignancy receiving multiday chemotherapy. American Journal of Health-System Pharmacy, 70, 343-349.
To determine the effectiveness and safety of aprepitant in Japanese patients with hematologic malignancy receiving multiday chemotherapy
All patients were given 3 mg IV granisetron 30 minutes before chemotherapy. Corticosteroids were administered as part of the chemotherapy regimen. In the aprepitant group, 125 mg was given orally on day 1; on following days, patients received 80 mg aprepitant daily.
Data were collected via retrospective electronic medical records review for comparison of outcomes between those who received aprepitant versus those who did not. Nausea, vomiting, and adverse events were monitored daily and recorded in the medical record.
The study was conducted at a single inpatient site in Japan.
All patients were in active antitumor treatment.
This was a retrospective comparison.
Measurement tools were the Common Terminology for Adverse Events version 4.0 and complete response calculation.
The study showed aprepitant to be safe and effective for CINV prophylaxis in this group of Japanese patients. Analysis suggested that cytarabine at a dosage of 4 g/m2 or more per day should be considered highly emetogenic.
This study adds to the body of evidence that demonstrates the safety and effectiveness of aprepitant for multiday chemotherapy by demonstrating effects in Japanese patients.