Reduction of cisplatin-induced emesis by a selective neurokinin-1- receptor antagonist

Rudolph M. Navari, Rick R. Reinhardt, Richard J. Gralla, Mark G. Kris, Paul J. Hesketh, Ali Khojasteh, Hedy Kindler, Thomas H. Grote, Kelly Pendergrass, Steven M. Grunberg, Alexandra D. Carides, Barry J. Gertz

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

342 Scopus citations

Abstract

Background: The localization of substance P in brain-stem regions associated with vomiting, and the results of studies in ferrets, led us to postulate that a neurokinin-1-receptor antagonist would be an anti-emetic in patients receiving anticancer chemotherapy. Methods: In a multicenter, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial involving 159 patients who had not previously received cisplatin, we evaluated the prevention of acute emesis (occurring within 24 hours) and delayed emesis (occurring on days 2 to 5) after a single dose of cisplatin therapy (70 mg or more per square meter of body-surface area). Before receiving cisplatin, all the patients received granisetron (10 μg per kilogram of body weight intravenously) and dexamethasone (20 mg orally). The patients were randomly assigned to one of three treatments in addition to granisetron and dexamethasone: 400 mg of an oral trisubstituted morpholine acetal (also known as L-754,030) before cisplatin and 300 mg on days 2 to 5 (group 1), 400 mg of L-754,030 before cisplatin and placebo on days 2 to 5 (group 2), or placebo before cisplatin and placebo on days 2 to 5 (group 3). Additional medication was available at any time to treat occurrences of vomiting or nausea. Results: In the acute- emesis phase, 93 percent of the patients in groups 1 and 2 combined and 67 percent of those in group 3 had no vomiting (P<0.001). In the delayed-emesis phase, 82 percent of the patients in group 1, 78 percent of those in group 2, and 33 percent of those in group 3 had no vomiting (P<0.001 for the comparison between group 1 or 2 and group 3). The median nausea score in the delayed-emesis phase was significantly lower in group 1 than in group 3 (P=0.003). No serious adverse events were attributed to L-754,030. Conclusions: The neurokinin-1-receptor antagonist L-754,030 prevents delayed emesis after treatment with cisplatin. Moreover, combining L-754,030 with granisetron plus dexamethasone improves the prevention of acute emesis.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)190-195
Number of pages6
JournalNew England Journal of Medicine
Volume340
Issue number3
DOIs
StatePublished - Jan 21 1999
Externally publishedYes

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Medicine(all)

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