Possibilities of prevention of nausea during cytostatic therapy: literature review and clinical cases

Abstract

Chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting (CINV) is a side effect of cancer treatment, affecting up to 40% of patients. Nausea and vomiting are the most dangerous and also the most common side effects among patients undergoing chemotherapy. CINV remains one of the most worrisome syndromes associated with cancer therapy and can lead to dehydration, electrolyte imbalances, malnutrition, and metabolic disorders. Risk factors for developing CINV include the patient’s gender and age, a history of CINV, and the emetogenicity and timing of chemotherapy. Options for preventing CINV are 5-HT3 receptor antagonists (i.e., ondansetron, granisetron, palonosetron) in combination with corticosteroids (i.e., dexamethasone) or additionally in combination with NK1 receptor antagonists (i.e., aprepitant, fosaprepitant, netupitant, rolapitant). Palonosetron is a selective 5-hydroxytryptamine 3 (5-HT3) receptor antagonist. The effectiveness of palonosetron for delayed nausea and vomiting is also supported by the results of three randomized trials that demonstrated no side effects of the simplified regimen with palonosetron and single dose dexamethasone for the control of CINV associated with moderately emetogenic chemotherapy or AC regimen. A clinical observation of the treatment of a young patient with breast cancer is given. After the first course of chemotherapy, the patient developed a rather serious complication in the form of vomiting, which required hospitalization for infusion therapy. The above clinical observation demonstrates the effectiveness of palonosetron in neo-adjuvant chemotherapy in a young patient, which made it possible to complete the entire course of treatment. After completion of neo-adjuvant chemotherapy, a radical operation was performed and a complete morphological response was noted.