Chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting: state of the art in 2006

J Support Oncol. 2006 Feb;4(2 Suppl 1):3-8.

Abstract

Chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting (CINV) remains a significant detriment to patient quality of life and a major impediment to successful delivery of chemotherapy. CINV is generally categorized in three phases: acute (0-24 hours post treatment), delayed (24-120 hours post treatment), and anticipatory. Two agents represents an important step forward in the clinician's ability to control CINV. Palonosetron, a serotonin-receptor antagonist, and aprepitant, a neurokinin-1 receptor antagonist, have both shown efficacy in combating emesis in the acute and delayed phases; since these two agents are of different drug classes, there is the potential for augmented antiemetic efficacy when the two are used together, as shown in a recent phase III trial. Challenges remain in the prevention of CINV, such as improved detection, the development of clinically useful assessment tools, and the revision of treatment guidelines.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Antiemetics / therapeutic use
  • Antineoplastic Agents / adverse effects*
  • Aprepitant
  • Humans
  • Isoquinolines / therapeutic use
  • Medical Oncology / trends
  • Morpholines / therapeutic use
  • Nausea / chemically induced*
  • Nausea / drug therapy
  • Neoplasms / drug therapy
  • Palonosetron
  • Quality of Life
  • Quinuclidines / therapeutic use
  • Vomiting / chemically induced*
  • Vomiting / drug therapy

Substances

  • Antiemetics
  • Antineoplastic Agents
  • Isoquinolines
  • Morpholines
  • Quinuclidines
  • Aprepitant
  • Palonosetron