Evaluation of palonosetron in combination with 1-day dexamethasone for chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting in patients receiving multiple cycles of paclitaxel and carboplatin for gynecologic malignancies

Aim/Background

Palonosetron (PAL) may prevent chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting (CINV) for paclitaxel and carboplatin (TC) in the delayed phase without dexamethasone (DEX) on days 2 and 3. This retrospective study was designed to compare PAL plus DEX on day 1 only (D-1 group) with PAL plus DEX on days 1-3 (D-3 group) with respect to complete response (CR) rate for delayed CINV in patients receiving multiple cycles of TC.

Methods

There were 89 patients receiving TC in our institution between 2011 and 2013. Of these 89, 61 receiving four cycles of TC were included and evaluated using the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer Antiemesis Tool. A chi-square test was used to compare the CR rates between groups. Logistic regression analysis was used to evaluate univariate and multivariate associations with clinical parameters on CR rate.

Results

The patients was 29 for the D-3 group and 32 for the D-1 group. There was no significant difference in the CR rates in cycles 1-4 between groups. There was also no significant difference in the complete control rates and the total control rates in each cycle between groups. Multivariate analysis performed with CR rate as an endpoint revealed that the only independent predictor was age under 50 years in cycle 3 and 4 (p = 0.043 and 0.005, respectively).

Conclusions

Combined treatment with PAL and DEX was effective for preventing delayed CINV in patients receiving TC, but age under 50 years was the risk factor for delayed CINV when cycle of chemotherapy increased.

Clinical trial identification

Disclosure

All authors have declared no conflicts of interest.