D. Pectasides et al., COMPARISON OF 2 DIFFERENT DOSES OF ONDANSETRON PLUS DEXAMETHASONE IN THE PROPHYLAXIS OF CISPLATIN-INDUCED EMESIS, Oncology, 54(1), 1997, pp. 1-6
This study was conducted to evaluate the efficacy of two different dos
es of ondansetron (8 mg vs. 24 mg) plus dexamethasone in the preventio
n ofcisplatin (CDDP)-induced emesis and nausea (acute and delayed). Th
e persistence of the anti-emetic efficacy during the second cycle of c
hemotherapy was also assessed. Eighty patients receiving high-dose CDD
P (>80 mg/m(2)) were randomized to have either ondansetron 8 mg plus d
examethasone 20 mg (8 mg group) or ondansetron 24 mg plus dexamethason
e 20 mg (24 mg group), given intravenously as a single dose before the
CDDP infusion. From days 2-5, all patients received oral ondansetron
8 mg twice daily. Seventy-five patients (38 in the 8 mg group and 37 i
n the 24 mg group) were evaluable for analysis. Among these, there wer
e 24 patients who received ifosfamide (IFO) on the 2nd day of treatmen
t; these patients were evaluated separately for delayed emesis. Comple
te protection from acute emesis was obtained in 26 (68.4%) and 26 (70.
3%) patients, in the two groups, respectively. Complete protection aga
inst acute nausea was achieved in 23 (60.5%) and 24 (64.9%) patients,
respectively. With respect to the delayed emesis, complete protection
was achieved in 14 (56%) and 13 (50%) patients not receiving IFO and i
n 4 (30.8%) and 3 (27.3%) of those receiving IFO. The figures for the
delayed nausea were: 12 (48%) and 13 (50%), 2 (15.4%) and 2 (18.2%), r
espectively. Similar protection against emesis and nausea was recorded
during the second cycle of chemotherapy. Both regimens have the same
efficacy and thus, taking into account the cost-effectiveness, 8 mg of
ondansetron plus dexamethasone in a single intravenous dose should be
used for the prevention of high-dose CDDP-induced emesis.