Prophylaxis of nausea and vomiting after medical cancer treatment : Guidelines on supportive treatment-PartII

Abstract

The frequency and severity of nausea and/or vomiting in patients receiving anticancer drugs are influenced by numerous factors, e.g., by the specific therapeutic agent, the dosage, the schedule and the form of administration. They are also influenced by individual factors of the patients, e.g., young age, female gender, previous cancer treatment, low or no alcohol consumption, morning sickness, travel sickness and states of anxiety. The emetogenicity of parenteral and oral medications is classified into high, moderate and minimal. For prophylaxis of highly emetogenic chemotherapy (HEC), neurokinin‑1 receptor antagonists (NK1-RA), 5‑hydroxytryptamine‑3 receptor antagonists (5-HT3-RA), dexamethasone (DEX) and olanzapine (OLANZ) are used in combination. For moderate emetogenicity DEX and 5‑HT3-RA are used together for prophylaxis of acute emesis and for low emetogenicity a monotherapy with 5‑HT3-RA, DEX or metoclopramide is used. For minimal emetogenicity routine prophylaxis is not necessary. Standards are also prescribed for delayed emesis and oral anticancer medications. Guideline-conform prophylaxis is an indispensable component of medical oncological treatment.