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Drug Insight: new antiemetics in the management of chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting

Nature Clinical Practice Oncology volume 2, pages 196–201 (2005)Cite this article

Abstract

Nausea and vomiting remain among the most feared side effects of chemotherapy for cancer patients. Significant progress has been made in the last 15 years in developing more effective and better-tolerated measures to minimize chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting (CINV). During the 1990s, the selective 5-hydroxytryptamine receptor antagonists were first introduced for the treatment of CINV, and resulted in more effective and better tolerated treatment of CINV. Despite recent progress, however, a significant number of patients still develop CINV, particularly during the 2–5 day period (delayed emesis) following chemotherapy. There is evidence that this may be an underappreciated problem on the part of some caregivers. Recently, two new antiemetics, aprepitant, the first member of the neurokinin-1 antagonists, and palonosetron, a second-generation 5-hydroxytryptamine receptor antagonist, received regulatory approval in the US. Both represent useful additions to the therapeutic armamentarium for the management of CINV.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Caritas St. Elizabeth's Medical Center,

    Thein H Oo

  2. Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA

    Thein H Oo

  3. Division of Hematology Oncology and Director of the Hematology Oncology Fellowship Program, Caritas St. Elizabeth's Medical Center,

    Paul J Hesketh

  4. Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA

    Paul J Hesketh

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  1. Thein H Oo
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  2. Paul J Hesketh
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Correspondence to Paul J Hesketh.

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The authors declare no competing financial interests.

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Oo, T., Hesketh, P. Drug Insight: new antiemetics in the management of chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting. Nat Rev Clin Oncol 2, 196–201 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1038/ncponc0132

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