Oral ondansetron and intravenous dexamethasone in the prevention of cisplatin-induced emesis. A phase II trial in women.

Fifty-eight previously untreated patients with gynecological cancer, assigned to cisplatin-based chemotherapy (40-80 mg/m2), received the following antiemetic treatment: day 0, oral ondansetron 8 mg 3 times/day + intravenous dexamethasone 16 mg; days 1-7, oral ondansetron 8 mg twice/day. In cycle 1 complete or major control (0-2 emetic episodes) was achieved in 94.6% of the patients in the acute phase (day 0) and in 89.2% in the delayed phase (day 1-7). In the subgroup receiving cisplatin > or = 75 mg/m2 the effect on acute and delayed emesis decreased significantly with subsequent courses. Reversible side effects were observed in 8.9% of the cases. Oral ondansetron was efficacious, well tolerated and is worth testing further in randomized trials with intravenous therapy.