Controlling chemotherapy-induced emesis: Emphasis on effective and practical treatment in the outpatient setting

EFFECTIVE antiemetic control in patients receiving cancer chemotherapy is now the standard of care. To evaluate areas for further improvement, it is necessary to assess the current degree of progress. With the use of the new serotonin antagonists (including ondansetron, granisetron, dolasetron, and tropisetron), several agents are now available in clinical practice or in trials. Clearly, complete control of emesis is an achievable goal that should be the major end-point for studies and for individual patient care.