[Examination on efficacy and safety of concurrent use of ondansetron hydrochloride and steroid in lung cancer patients on cisplatin].

The anti-emetic effect and safety in patients receiving ondansetron hydrochloride (OND group) and concurrent use of ondansetron and dexamethasone (DEX group) in cases of acute and delayed onset emesis induced by a single high dose of cisplatin, given as a chemotherapy to lung cancer patients, were comparatively studied. The study subjects were 78 lung cancer patients. The OND group received 4 mg of ondansetron via slow intravenous injection on Day 1, 30 minutes prior to cisplatin, and for Days 2 to 5, the subjects orally received 4 mg ondansetron tablet each day. The DEX group received the same dose regimen of ondansetron as the OND group for Days 1-5, but in addition the subjects received dexamethasone injection in doses of 8 mg twice daily on Day 1 and 4 mg (1 mg QID) daily for Days 2-5. An anti-emetic effect against acute nausea and vomiting was achieved in 83.8% of the OND group and in a higher rate of 94.6% of the DEX group. Significantly better efficacy was seen in the DEX group as to the complete suppression rate of nausea and vomiting and the improvement of food intake. The group also achieved better efficacy in delayed onset of emesis. Two cases of adverse reactions (hiccups and elevation of ALT and BUN) were observed in the DEX group; however, since the symptoms were all mild, we did not consider there was any problem in safety. We conclude from the above findings that concurrent administration of ondansetron hydrochloride and dexamethasone is a clinically useful treatment for acute and delayed onset emesis induced by a single high dose of cisplatin given to lung cancer patients.