New directions in managing chemotherapy-related emesis.

The author reviews the physiology of the various types of emesis and the factors that influence chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting, including both patient-related factors and those related to treatment. He then enumerates and describes the antiemetic agents now available, ranging from phenothiazines to cannabinoids and serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine) antagonists; explains how they might best be used; and outlines the probable future direction for antiemetic studies.