Tropisetron in the prevention of chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting: The Nordic experience

Abstract

An open, non-comparative, Nordic multicenter study was performed during 1991–1992 to evaluate the new 5-HT ₃ receptor antagonist tropisetron, as an antiemetic agent in various types of cancer chemotherapy. More than 600 patients were recruited from 16 cancer centers in Sweden, Finland and Denmark. In this report an interim analysis on 231 patients is presented. Gynecological cancers (61%), lung cancer (14%) and breast cancer (7%), were the main diagnoses. In 118 of 231 patients (51%) prior experience of chemotherapy was documented. In 91 patients (39%) cisplatin was part of the cytostatic regimen. Carboplatin (27%), doxorubicin (32%), epidoxorubicin (18%) were also frequently included. In all, 18 cytostatic agents were studied. The median number of courses studied was 3.3 (range 1–15). Overall 153 of 231 patients (67%) were completely protected from acute nausea and vomiting during the first course of chemotherapy. Delayed nausea and vomiting (Days 2–6) were completely controlled in 45%–72%. Treatment efficacy remained stable (57%–89%) over 10 consecutive courses of chemotherapy. For non-cisplatin regimens complete protection was achieved in 78% compared with 51% for cisplatin-regimens (p < 0.0001). Patients with no prior experience of chemotherapy had greater control of acute nausea and vomiting (73%) than patients treated before (61%) in the first course, but not in subsequent courses. There were no such differences in control of delayed nausea and vomiting between chemotherapy-naive and previously treated patients. Sex and age were significant prognostic factors with regard to anti-emetic response. Adverse events were recorded in 19%–36% of the cases during long-term follow-up. Headache (16%) and constipation (5%) were most frequent. The side effects were mild, however, and tropisetron was an effective drug which was well-tolerated by patients.