[Efficacy of granisetron rescue therapy for nausea and vomiting induced by cancer chemotherapies in urogenital malignant tumor].

In this study, the usefulness of granisetron rescue therapy for nausea and vomiting induced by cancer chemotherapies, including CDDP, was examined. Granisetron was given to twenty patients with urogenital malignant tumor by iv infusion for thirty minutes after the onset of nausea or vomiting. Nausea disappeared in 15 out of 20 patients (75%), 8 of whom (40%) experienced its disappearance while the granisetron was being administered. Vomiting was perfectly controlled in 5 out of 20 patients (25%) for 24 hours after the granisetron administration. No adverse event seemingly due to granisetron was observed. The result of this study confirmed the speedy effect granisetron on nausea induced by cancer chemotherapy including CDDP, but it stopped short of demonstrating sufficient efficacy for vomiting. Prophylactic use, therefore, seems more desirable in view of the patient's QOL, when a highly emetogenic anti-tumor drug, such as CDDP, is used.