GRANISETRON PLUS DEXAMETHASONE IN MODERATELY EMETOGENIC CHEMOTHERAPY - EVALUATION OF ACTIVITY DURING 3 CONSECUTIVE COURSES OF CHEMOTHERAPY

In this study we evaluated the antiemetic activity of a combination of 3 mg granisetron in a short i.v. infusion followed by 12 mg dexametha sone i.v. in 64 patients with cancer receiving moderately emetogenic c hemotherapy scheduled in a single day. No patient had previously under gone chemotherapy and three consecutive cycles were evaluated. Respons e to antiemetic treatment was graded as follows: complete response, no episodes of vomiting; major response, only one episode; minor respons e, two to four episodes; failure, more than four episodes. Nausea was graded as absent, mild, moderate or severe (patients bedridden). At th e first cycle a complete protection from acute vomiting and nausea was achieved in 95% and 73% of patients respectively; the rate of complet e response for delayed vomiting was 90%, while 45% of patients complai ned of delayed nausea. The antiemetic and antinausea efficacy remained substantially unchanged during the second and third cycles of chemoth erapy. Constipation and headache were the most frequent adverse events . In conclusion this antiemetic regimen appears very effective in prev enting nausea and vomiting in moderately emetogenic chemotherapy.