Abstract
BackgroundChemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting (CINV) belong among the most burdensome side effects in hemato-oncology. Mostly, a combination of ondansetron and dexamethasone is used as antiemetic prophylaxis in pediatric patients undergoing emetogenic chemotherapy. However, dexamethasone is prohibited in different pediatric chemotherapy protocols. Currently, data on the use of ondansetron with the new antiemetic agent fosaprepitant without dexamethasone is not available for pediatric patients.MethodsIn this non-interventional observation study, 79 pediatric patients with a median age of 8.0 years (range 0.5–17.9 years) who received a CINV prophylaxis regimen with either fosaprepitant (4 mg/kg; maximum 150 mg) and ondansetron (as 24-h continuous infusion) (n = 40; fosaprepitant group/FG) or ondansetron only (n = 39; control group/CG) during moderately or highly emetogenic chemotherapy were analyzed. The groups were analyzed and compared for frequency of vomiting, administered doses of on-demand antiemetic dimenhydrinate and adverse events during the acute (0-24 h after chemotherapy administration) and delayed (> 24 h–120 h) CINV phases.ResultsA total of 112 and 116 chemotherapy blocks were analyzed in the fosaprepitant and the control group, respectively. The emetogenic potential of the administered chemotherapy did not significantly differ (p = 0.8812) between the two cohorts. In the acute CINV phase, the percentage of patients experiencing vomiting (n = 26 patients) and the vomiting events were significantly higher (p = 0.0005 and p < 0.0001, respectively) in the CG (n = 26 patients (66.7%); 88 events) compared with the FG (n = 10 patients (25.0%); 37 events). In the delayed CINV phase, the percentage of patients experiencing vomiting and the vomiting events were also significantly higher (p = 0.0017 and p < 0.0001, respectively) in the CG (n = 31 patients (79.5%); 164 events) compared with the FG (n = 17 patients (42.5%); 103 events). Additionally, significantly more dimenhydrinate doses were administered in the CG compared with the FG patients (n = 322/n = 198; p < 0.0001). The occurrence of adverse events did not significantly differ between the two groups (p > 0.05).ConclusionFosaprepitant (4.0 mg/kg) in addition to ondansetron, without application of dexamethasone, was well tolerated, safe, effective and superior to ondansetron only as CINV prophylaxis in pediatric patients during moderately and highly emetogenic chemotherapy.
Highlights
Chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting (CINV) belong among the most burdensome side effects in hemato-oncology
A total of 112 and 116 chemotherapy blocks were analyzed in the fosaprepitant and the control group, respectively
A median of 3 chemotherapy courses were analyzed per patient in the fosaprepitant group and the control group
Summary
Chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting (CINV) belong among the most burdensome side effects in hemato-oncology. Receptors of specific regions of the vomiting center of the brain may be activated These receptors are usually bound by three different neurotransmitters: serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine-3 receptor (5-HT3R)), substance P (neurokinin-1 receptor (NK1R) and dopamine (D2 receptor), inducing peripherally- or centrally-caused nausea and vomiting. Fosaprepitant is administered once prior to chemotherapy and every 5 days thereafter, compared with oral administration of aprepitant on three consecutive days starting on the first day of chemotherapy administration [5]. These advantages of the IV formulation hold strong importance especially in patients who are unable or unwilling to take oral formulations due to their low age or during mucositis
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