[Emetogenic potential of antineoplastic agents based on clinical trials in Japan]

Abstract

Chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting (CINV) is one of the most common and distressing side effects of chemotherapy that decreases patients' quality of life and motivation for treatment. Therefore, prevention and treatment of CINV are essential for motivating patients to continue chemotherapy. International societies such as American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO), Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer (MASCC)/European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO), and National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) have published guidelines for using antiemetics, and these guidelines were published in Japan in May 2010. However, both the Japananese and international guidelines do not provide sufficient clinical trial-based evidence for antiemetic use in the Japanese population. In this study, we attempted to evaluate and clarify the frequency of CINV in clinical trials in Japan. We found that thet guidelines specify different emetogenic potentials of some antineoplastic agents such as gemcitabine. Therefore, we believe that it is necessary to reevaluate the emetogenic risk of such antineoplastic agents and to develop a practical and standard antiemetic therapy so that in the future, patients do not hesitate to undergo chemotherapy because of side effects.