BENCHMARKING EVALUATION OF 5-HT3-RECEPTOR ANTAGONIST USE IN EMETOGENIC CHEMOTHERAPY

A benchmarking project was conducted at six cancer centers to evaluate the use of the 5-HT3-receptor antagonists granisetron HCl and ondanse tron HCl to prevent chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting. Some 773 chemotherapy episodes involving use of a 5-HT3-receptor antagonist as antimetic therapy were randomly selected from among the chemotherapy episodes administered at the centers during a 10-month period. No sign ificant differences were found in clinical responses between granisetr on and ondansetron after controlling for population differences (P > 0 .05). Opportunities for clinical improvement were identified, includin g transition from intravenous to oral 5-HT3-receptor antagonists for e ligible patients, concomitant use of dexamethasone, and use of convent ional antiemetics versus 5-HT3-receptor antagonists for chemotherapy o f low emetogenic potential and take-home use.