Harper Cancer Research Institute, Indiana University School of Medicine, South Bend, IN; University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN
The purpose of this review is to evaluate the effectiveness of the various antiemetic agents currently in use for the prevention of chemotherapy-induced nausea and to provide suggestions for the prevention of chemotherapy-induced nausea. The current data in the literature from numerous large studies suggest that the first- or second-generation 5-hydroxytryptamine-3 (5-HT3) receptor (serotonin) antagonists and the neurokinin-1 (NK-1) receptor (substance P) antagonist aprepitant have not been effective in the control of nausea in patients who receive either moderately or highly emetogenic chemotherapy, despite the marked improvement in the control of emesis with these agents. Recent phase II and III studies with olanzapine have demonstrated good control of emesis and nausea in patients receiving either moderately or highly emetogenic chemotherapy. Preliminary small studies with gabapentin, cannabinoids, and ginger are inconclusive in defining the role of those three agents, if any, in the prevention of chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting...
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