Tropisetron (Navoban (R)) in the control of nausea and vomiting induced bycombined cancer chemotherapy in children

Background: We aimed to assess the potency and efficacy of tropisetron, a 5 -HT3 receptor antagonist, in the prevention of nausea and emesis observed i n the pediatric patient population taking various chemotherapy protocols. Methods: Tropisetron (Navoban(R)) was given to 100 children (62 boys and 38 girls aged 6 months to 15 years) with various malignancies. Patients recei ved tropisetron during one or more courses of emetogenic chemotherapy for a total of 350 courses administered intravenously or intravenously and intra thecally. Tropisetron (0.2 mg/kg/day, maximum: 5 mg/day) was administered a s a single intravenous dose slowly, before the start of chemotherapy on day 1 and intravenously or by mouth on subsequent days (median treatment durat ion: 5 days). Results: The patients receiving cytotoxic chemotherapy had a 70% complete r esponse rate and a 24% partial response rate during the first 24 h period o f the first course. We observed headache (five courses), diarrhea (three co urses) and loss of appetite tone course) as side-effects (2.5%). Conclusion: Tropisetron is safe, effective, easy to use, has no serious sid e-effects and can be recommended for pediatric patients. The efficacy of tr opisetron may be enhanced by the addition of corticosteroids in patients re ceiving highly emetogenic cancer chemotherapy.