ANTIEMETIC EFFICACY OF GRANISETRON IN PATIENTS WITH GYNECOLOGICAL MALIGNANCIES

The efficacy and tolerability of granisetron in the management of acut e and delayed emesis was compared with that of a multiple antiemetic d rug combination regimen, including metoclopramide, dexamethasone, lora zepam and orphenadrine. The trial was a randomized, cross-over study i nvolving 111 patients with gynecological cancers undergoing chemothera py with cisplatin. Granisetron was significantly more effective than t he combination regimen during the first 24 h after chemotherapy; compl ete response rates were 67 and 48%, respectively (p = 0.002). There wa s a significant reduction in the effectiveness of the combination duri ng the second treatment cycle, compared with the first. In contrast, t he efficacy of granisetron did not differ between the two cycles. The response rate during the 6 days after chemotherapy was 40.8% in both g roups. At the end of the study, 55% of patients preferred granisetron and 23% preferred the combination (p < 0.001). Granisetron was well to lerated. The principal adverse event was headache, which was reported in 7% of patients. The results of this study confirm that granisetron is effective in the treatment of cisplatin-induced nausea and vomiting during the 24 h after chemotherapy.