INSUFFICIENT EFFICACY OF THE USE OF ONE 8 -MG TABLET ONDANSETRON IN THE PREVENTION OF FEC CHEMOTHERAPY-INDUCED EMESIS

This study was performed in a group of 89 patients treated for breast carcinoma with a FEC regimen (5-fluorouracil, epirubicin, cyclophospha mide). The aim was to evaluate the antiemetic efficacy of one 8 mg tab let ondansetron (OND), and in case of failure, to measure the recoveri ng level by the administration of 8 mg IV OND. One tablet of OND was g iven before the first course. A complete or major control of emetic ep isodes (EE) (0-2 EE) over the 24 first hours was obtained in 55 patien ts (62%). A complete or major control of nausea (absent or mild) was o btained in 46 patients (52%). A success, defined as a complete or majo r control for EE and nausea during the first 5 days, was obtained in 3 6 patients (40%). These 36 patients were treated again with 8 mg oral OND at the second course, with a success level of 61% (22/36). Among t he 53 patients unresponsive to the oral OND, 38 were treated by 8 mg I V OND at the second course. A complete or major control for EE and for nausea over the first 24 hours was obtained respectively in II patien ts (29%), and II patients (29%). No success was obtained. The 15 remai ning patients, who had a very bad tolerance at the first course were e xcluded from the study and treated by OND-methylprednisolon, with only one success obtained. This study shows that the exclusive use of one 8 tablet OND is not sufficient in prevention of emesis induced by a FE C regimen, and that failures are only partially recovered by the IV ro ute.