Granisetron in the Treatment of Radiotherapy-Induced Nausea and Vomiting

Hong, Seong Eon; Kang, Jino

Abstract

PURPOSE
Granisetron is a potent, the most selective 5-HT3 receptor antagonist and is reported to be effective in treatment of radiation-induced emesis. The antiemetic efficacy and safety of oral granisteron was evaluated in patients with receiving highly emetogenic treatment by conventional fractionated irradiation. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Patients with various cancers who were being treated with irradiation were accrued into the present study. The intensity of nausea was evaluated on first 24 hours and on day-7 by patients according to the degree of interference with normal daily life as followings; a) none; b) present but no interference with normal daily life (mild); c) interference with normal daily life (moderate); and d) bedridden because of nausea (severe). Non or mild state was considered to indicate successful treatment. The efficacy of antiemetic treatment was graded as follows; a) complete response; no vomiting, no worse than mild nausea and receive no rescue antiemetic therapy over the 24h period, b) major response; either one episode of vomiting or moderate/severe nausea or had received rescue medication over 24h period, or any combination of these, c) minor response; two to four episodes of vomiting over the 24h period, regardless of nausea and rescue medication, d) failure; more than four medication. The score of the most sympto m was recorded and the total score over 24 hours was summarized. The complete or major response was considered to indicate successful treatment.
RESULTS
A total of 10 patients were enrolled into this study, and all were assessable for efficacy analysis. Total nausea control was achieved in 90% (9/10:none=60% plus mild=30%) of total patients after 7 days. The cotrol of vomiting by granisteron was noted in seven patients (70%) of complete response and three (30%) of major response with a hundred-percent successful treatment over 7 days. The minor response or treatment failure were not observed. No significant adverse events or toxicities from granisetron were recorded in patient receiving granisetron.
CONCLUSION
We concluded that granisetron is a highly effective antiemetic agent in controlling radiotherapy-induced nausea or vomiting with a minimal toxicity profile.