Is an antiemetic prophylactic treatment needed for patients submitted to consecutive days of 5-fluorouracil? An observational study

Verena De Angelis; Fausto Roila; Maurizio Tonato; Enzo Ballatori; Albano Del Favero; S. Tumolo; L. Meneghetti; D. Negri; S. Della Gaspera; C. Presot; G. Muran; A. Lucenti; G. Ciccarese; M. A. Palladino; S. Porrozzi; R. Sabbatini; R. Depenni; M. Federico; V. Silingardi; E. Sansoni; M. Maltoni; C. Milandri; D. Amadori; R. Sabbioni; R. Nortilli; G. L. Cetto; L. Dogliotti; T. Buniva; G. Gorzegno; M. Lopez; A. Amodio; F. Conti; C. M. Foggi; A. Giglio; L. De Sio; P. Manente; G. Bernardo; M. R. Strada; G. Villani; L. Gallo; L. Merlini; C. Caroti; S. Mazzotta; R. Forcignanò; G. Quarta; C. Pacilio; G. Iodice; G. Rosati; P. Malacarne; D. Donati; R. Maccaferri; G. Comella; R. Casaretti; I. Carreca; L. Rausa; V. Fosser; S. Schiavon; F. M. Gioffré; A. Venuti; G. Amunni; A. Villanucci; A. Contu; A. Pazzola; G. Palmiotti; G. Garofolo; C. Epifani; M. Giordano; M. Antimi; M. Minelli; F. De Vita; G. Catalano; G. Cruciani; L. Montanari; P. Marchei; S. Amici; P. Alessadroni; M. Ceccolini; M. T. Cattaneo; B. Orlandini; B. Agostara; M. Marzi; M. S. Dionisi; F. Di Costanzo; G. Troccoli

Is an antiemetic prophylactic treatment needed for patients submitted to consecutive days of 5-fluorouracil? An observational study

Verena De Angelis, Fausto Roila, Maurizio Tonato, Enzo Ballatori, Albano Del Favero, S. Tumolo, L. Meneghetti, D. Negri, S. Della Gaspera, C. Presot, G. Muran, A. Lucenti, G. Ciccarese, M. A. Palladino, S. Porrozzi, R. Sabbatini, R. Depenni, M. Federico, V. Silingardi, E. SansoniM. Maltoni, C. Milandri, D. Amadori, R. Sabbioni, R. Nortilli, G. L. Cetto, L. Dogliotti, T. Buniva, G. Gorzegno, M. Lopez, A. Amodio, F. Conti, C. M. Foggi, A. Giglio, L. De Sio, P. Manente, G. Bernardo, M. R. Strada, G. Villani, L. Gallo, L. Merlini, C. Caroti, S. Mazzotta, R. Forcignanò, G. Quarta, C. Pacilio, G. Iodice, G. Rosati, P. Malacarne, D. Donati, R. Maccaferri, G. Comella, R. Casaretti, I. Carreca, L. Rausa, V. Fosser, S. Schiavon, F. M. Gioffré, A. Venuti, G. Amunni, A. Villanucci, A. Contu, A. Pazzola, G. Palmiotti, G. Garofolo, C. Epifani, M. Giordano, M. Antimi, M. Minelli, F. De Vita, G. Catalano, G. Cruciani, L. Montanari, P. Marchei, S. Amici, P. Alessadroni, M. Ceccolini, M. T. Cattaneo, B. Orlandini, B. Agostara, M. Marzi, M. S. Dionisi, F. Di Costanzo, G. Troccoli

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Abstract

Aims and Background. The necessity of an antiemetic prophylaxis in patients treated with chemotherapy of low emetogenic potential, such as 5-fluorouracil ± folinic acid fractionated over several consecutive days, is controversial. The aim of the study was to evaluate the therapeutic behavior of oncologists on this issue. Methods. All consecutive in and out patients who started chemotherapy in 33 Italian oncological departments from June 24 to July 6, 1996, were studied. The antiemetic prescription pattern and its effectiveness, in patients submitted to 5-fluorouracil ± folinic acid were evaluated. Results. Of the 1956 patients submitted to cancer chemotherapy, 259 patients received 5-fluorouracil ± folinic acid. Of these, 186 patients were treated for 5 consecutive days, 47 for 4 days, 20 for 3 days and 6 for 2 days. A total of 219 (84.5%) received an antiemetic prophylaxis: 43.4% a 5-HT3 antagonist ± steroids, 37.5% an antidopaminergic drug, 10.9% a steroid ± antidopaminergic drug, and 8.2% other drugs. Only 40 patients (15.5%) did not receive an antiemetic prophylaxis. Overall complete protection from vomiting/nausea was 225/259 (86.9%)/163/259 (62.9%). The complete protection from vomiting/nausea during the 5 days in the 186 patients was not significantly different among patients receiving or not an antiemetic prophylaxis (88.1%/64.9% vs 88.9%/55.6%). At unifactorial analysis, the previous experience of vomiting/nausea caused by chemotherapy was found to be a significant prognostic factor. In fact, overall complete protection from vomiting/nausea was significantly inferior in patients who had previous experience of vomiting/nausea (65.1%/35.0%) with respect to those who did not (91.2%/75.4%, P <0.001/ > 0.001, respectively). Conclusions. The study showed that in clinical practice patients submitted to 5-fluorouracil ± folinic acid obtained a similar high protection from vomiting and nausea regardless of whether or not antiemetic prophylaxis was given. It would be therefore reasonable not to treat patients undergoing such chemotherapy, whereas patients with previous experience of vomiting/nausea caused by chemotherapy should be given an antiemetic prophylaxis.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	379-382
Number of pages	4
Journal	Tumori
Volume	87
Issue number	6
Publication status	Published - 2001

Keywords

5-HT3 antagonists
Antiemetics
Clinical practice
Effectiveness

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Cancer Research

Cite this

De Angelis, V., Roila, F., Tonato, M., Ballatori, E., Del Favero, A., Tumolo, S., Meneghetti, L., Negri, D., Della Gaspera, S., Presot, C., Muran, G., Lucenti, A., Ciccarese, G., Palladino, M. A., Porrozzi, S., Sabbatini, R., Depenni, R., Federico, M., Silingardi, V., ... Troccoli, G. (2001). Is an antiemetic prophylactic treatment needed for patients submitted to consecutive days of 5-fluorouracil? An observational study. Tumori, 87(6), 379-382.

De Angelis, V, Roila, F, Tonato, M, Ballatori, E, Del Favero, A, Tumolo, S, Meneghetti, L, Negri, D, Della Gaspera, S, Presot, C, Muran, G, Lucenti, A, Ciccarese, G, Palladino, MA, Porrozzi, S, Sabbatini, R, Depenni, R, Federico, M, Silingardi, V, Sansoni, E, Maltoni, M, Milandri, C, Amadori, D, Sabbioni, R, Nortilli, R, Cetto, GL, Dogliotti, L, Buniva, T, Gorzegno, G, Lopez, M, Amodio, A, Conti, F, Foggi, CM, Giglio, A, De Sio, L, Manente, P, Bernardo, G, Strada, MR, Villani, G, Gallo, L, Merlini, L, Caroti, C, Mazzotta, S, Forcignanò, R, Quarta, G, Pacilio, C, Iodice, G, Rosati, G, Malacarne, P, Donati, D, Maccaferri, R, Comella, G, Casaretti, R, Carreca, I, Rausa, L, Fosser, V, Schiavon, S, Gioffré, FM, Venuti, A, Amunni, G, Villanucci, A, Contu, A, Pazzola, A, Palmiotti, G, Garofolo, G, Epifani, C, Giordano, M, Antimi, M, Minelli, M, De Vita, F, Catalano, G, Cruciani, G, Montanari, L, Marchei, P, Amici, S, Alessadroni, P, Ceccolini, M, Cattaneo, MT, Orlandini, B, Agostara, B, Marzi, M, Dionisi, MS, Di Costanzo, F & Troccoli, G 2001, 'Is an antiemetic prophylactic treatment needed for patients submitted to consecutive days of 5-fluorouracil? An observational study', Tumori, vol. 87, no. 6, pp. 379-382.

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title = "Is an antiemetic prophylactic treatment needed for patients submitted to consecutive days of 5-fluorouracil? An observational study",

abstract = "Aims and Background. The necessity of an antiemetic prophylaxis in patients treated with chemotherapy of low emetogenic potential, such as 5-fluorouracil ± folinic acid fractionated over several consecutive days, is controversial. The aim of the study was to evaluate the therapeutic behavior of oncologists on this issue. Methods. All consecutive in and out patients who started chemotherapy in 33 Italian oncological departments from June 24 to July 6, 1996, were studied. The antiemetic prescription pattern and its effectiveness, in patients submitted to 5-fluorouracil ± folinic acid were evaluated. Results. Of the 1956 patients submitted to cancer chemotherapy, 259 patients received 5-fluorouracil ± folinic acid. Of these, 186 patients were treated for 5 consecutive days, 47 for 4 days, 20 for 3 days and 6 for 2 days. A total of 219 (84.5%) received an antiemetic prophylaxis: 43.4% a 5-HT3 antagonist ± steroids, 37.5% an antidopaminergic drug, 10.9% a steroid ± antidopaminergic drug, and 8.2% other drugs. Only 40 patients (15.5%) did not receive an antiemetic prophylaxis. Overall complete protection from vomiting/nausea was 225/259 (86.9%)/163/259 (62.9%). The complete protection from vomiting/nausea during the 5 days in the 186 patients was not significantly different among patients receiving or not an antiemetic prophylaxis (88.1%/64.9% vs 88.9%/55.6%). At unifactorial analysis, the previous experience of vomiting/nausea caused by chemotherapy was found to be a significant prognostic factor. In fact, overall complete protection from vomiting/nausea was significantly inferior in patients who had previous experience of vomiting/nausea (65.1%/35.0%) with respect to those who did not (91.2%/75.4%, P <0.001/ > 0.001, respectively). Conclusions. The study showed that in clinical practice patients submitted to 5-fluorouracil ± folinic acid obtained a similar high protection from vomiting and nausea regardless of whether or not antiemetic prophylaxis was given. It would be therefore reasonable not to treat patients undergoing such chemotherapy, whereas patients with previous experience of vomiting/nausea caused by chemotherapy should be given an antiemetic prophylaxis.",

keywords = "5-HT3 antagonists, Antiemetics, Clinical practice, Effectiveness",

author = "{De Angelis}, Verena and Fausto Roila and Maurizio Tonato and Enzo Ballatori and {Del Favero}, Albano and S. Tumolo and L. Meneghetti and D. Negri and {Della Gaspera}, S. and C. Presot and G. Muran and A. Lucenti and G. Ciccarese and Palladino, {M. A.} and S. Porrozzi and R. Sabbatini and R. Depenni and M. Federico and V. Silingardi and E. Sansoni and M. Maltoni and C. Milandri and D. Amadori and R. Sabbioni and R. Nortilli and Cetto, {G. L.} and L. Dogliotti and T. Buniva and G. Gorzegno and M. Lopez and A. Amodio and F. Conti and Foggi, {C. M.} and A. Giglio and {De Sio}, L. and P. Manente and G. Bernardo and Strada, {M. R.} and G. Villani and L. Gallo and L. Merlini and C. Caroti and S. Mazzotta and R. Forcignan{\`o} and G. Quarta and C. Pacilio and G. Iodice and G. Rosati and P. Malacarne and D. Donati and R. Maccaferri and G. Comella and R. Casaretti and I. Carreca and L. Rausa and V. Fosser and S. Schiavon and Gioffr{\'e}, {F. M.} and A. Venuti and G. Amunni and A. Villanucci and A. Contu and A. Pazzola and G. Palmiotti and G. Garofolo and C. Epifani and M. Giordano and M. Antimi and M. Minelli and {De Vita}, F. and G. Catalano and G. Cruciani and L. Montanari and P. Marchei and S. Amici and P. Alessadroni and M. Ceccolini and Cattaneo, {M. T.} and B. Orlandini and B. Agostara and M. Marzi and Dionisi, {M. S.} and {Di Costanzo}, F. and G. Troccoli",

year = "2001",

language = "English",

volume = "87",

pages = "379--382",

journal = "Tumori",

issn = "0300-8916",

publisher = "SAGE Publications Ltd",

number = "6",

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TY - JOUR

T1 - Is an antiemetic prophylactic treatment needed for patients submitted to consecutive days of 5-fluorouracil? An observational study

AU - De Angelis, Verena

AU - Roila, Fausto

AU - Tonato, Maurizio

AU - Ballatori, Enzo

AU - Del Favero, Albano

AU - Tumolo, S.

AU - Meneghetti, L.

AU - Negri, D.

AU - Della Gaspera, S.

AU - Presot, C.

AU - Muran, G.

AU - Lucenti, A.

AU - Ciccarese, G.

AU - Palladino, M. A.

AU - Porrozzi, S.

AU - Sabbatini, R.

AU - Depenni, R.

AU - Federico, M.

AU - Silingardi, V.

AU - Sansoni, E.

AU - Maltoni, M.

AU - Milandri, C.

AU - Amadori, D.

AU - Sabbioni, R.

AU - Nortilli, R.

AU - Cetto, G. L.

AU - Dogliotti, L.

AU - Buniva, T.

AU - Gorzegno, G.

AU - Lopez, M.

AU - Amodio, A.

AU - Conti, F.

AU - Foggi, C. M.

AU - Giglio, A.

AU - De Sio, L.

AU - Manente, P.

AU - Bernardo, G.

AU - Strada, M. R.

AU - Villani, G.

AU - Gallo, L.

AU - Merlini, L.

AU - Caroti, C.

AU - Mazzotta, S.

AU - Forcignanò, R.

AU - Quarta, G.

AU - Pacilio, C.

AU - Iodice, G.

AU - Rosati, G.

AU - Malacarne, P.

AU - Donati, D.

AU - Maccaferri, R.

AU - Comella, G.

AU - Casaretti, R.

AU - Carreca, I.

AU - Rausa, L.

AU - Fosser, V.

AU - Schiavon, S.

AU - Gioffré, F. M.

AU - Venuti, A.

AU - Amunni, G.

AU - Villanucci, A.

AU - Contu, A.

AU - Pazzola, A.

AU - Palmiotti, G.

AU - Garofolo, G.

AU - Epifani, C.

AU - Giordano, M.

AU - Antimi, M.

AU - Minelli, M.

AU - De Vita, F.

AU - Catalano, G.

AU - Cruciani, G.

AU - Montanari, L.

AU - Marchei, P.

AU - Amici, S.

AU - Alessadroni, P.

AU - Ceccolini, M.

AU - Cattaneo, M. T.

AU - Orlandini, B.

AU - Agostara, B.

AU - Marzi, M.

AU - Dionisi, M. S.

AU - Di Costanzo, F.

AU - Troccoli, G.

PY - 2001

Y1 - 2001

N2 - Aims and Background. The necessity of an antiemetic prophylaxis in patients treated with chemotherapy of low emetogenic potential, such as 5-fluorouracil ± folinic acid fractionated over several consecutive days, is controversial. The aim of the study was to evaluate the therapeutic behavior of oncologists on this issue. Methods. All consecutive in and out patients who started chemotherapy in 33 Italian oncological departments from June 24 to July 6, 1996, were studied. The antiemetic prescription pattern and its effectiveness, in patients submitted to 5-fluorouracil ± folinic acid were evaluated. Results. Of the 1956 patients submitted to cancer chemotherapy, 259 patients received 5-fluorouracil ± folinic acid. Of these, 186 patients were treated for 5 consecutive days, 47 for 4 days, 20 for 3 days and 6 for 2 days. A total of 219 (84.5%) received an antiemetic prophylaxis: 43.4% a 5-HT3 antagonist ± steroids, 37.5% an antidopaminergic drug, 10.9% a steroid ± antidopaminergic drug, and 8.2% other drugs. Only 40 patients (15.5%) did not receive an antiemetic prophylaxis. Overall complete protection from vomiting/nausea was 225/259 (86.9%)/163/259 (62.9%). The complete protection from vomiting/nausea during the 5 days in the 186 patients was not significantly different among patients receiving or not an antiemetic prophylaxis (88.1%/64.9% vs 88.9%/55.6%). At unifactorial analysis, the previous experience of vomiting/nausea caused by chemotherapy was found to be a significant prognostic factor. In fact, overall complete protection from vomiting/nausea was significantly inferior in patients who had previous experience of vomiting/nausea (65.1%/35.0%) with respect to those who did not (91.2%/75.4%, P <0.001/ > 0.001, respectively). Conclusions. The study showed that in clinical practice patients submitted to 5-fluorouracil ± folinic acid obtained a similar high protection from vomiting and nausea regardless of whether or not antiemetic prophylaxis was given. It would be therefore reasonable not to treat patients undergoing such chemotherapy, whereas patients with previous experience of vomiting/nausea caused by chemotherapy should be given an antiemetic prophylaxis.

AB - Aims and Background. The necessity of an antiemetic prophylaxis in patients treated with chemotherapy of low emetogenic potential, such as 5-fluorouracil ± folinic acid fractionated over several consecutive days, is controversial. The aim of the study was to evaluate the therapeutic behavior of oncologists on this issue. Methods. All consecutive in and out patients who started chemotherapy in 33 Italian oncological departments from June 24 to July 6, 1996, were studied. The antiemetic prescription pattern and its effectiveness, in patients submitted to 5-fluorouracil ± folinic acid were evaluated. Results. Of the 1956 patients submitted to cancer chemotherapy, 259 patients received 5-fluorouracil ± folinic acid. Of these, 186 patients were treated for 5 consecutive days, 47 for 4 days, 20 for 3 days and 6 for 2 days. A total of 219 (84.5%) received an antiemetic prophylaxis: 43.4% a 5-HT3 antagonist ± steroids, 37.5% an antidopaminergic drug, 10.9% a steroid ± antidopaminergic drug, and 8.2% other drugs. Only 40 patients (15.5%) did not receive an antiemetic prophylaxis. Overall complete protection from vomiting/nausea was 225/259 (86.9%)/163/259 (62.9%). The complete protection from vomiting/nausea during the 5 days in the 186 patients was not significantly different among patients receiving or not an antiemetic prophylaxis (88.1%/64.9% vs 88.9%/55.6%). At unifactorial analysis, the previous experience of vomiting/nausea caused by chemotherapy was found to be a significant prognostic factor. In fact, overall complete protection from vomiting/nausea was significantly inferior in patients who had previous experience of vomiting/nausea (65.1%/35.0%) with respect to those who did not (91.2%/75.4%, P <0.001/ > 0.001, respectively). Conclusions. The study showed that in clinical practice patients submitted to 5-fluorouracil ± folinic acid obtained a similar high protection from vomiting and nausea regardless of whether or not antiemetic prophylaxis was given. It would be therefore reasonable not to treat patients undergoing such chemotherapy, whereas patients with previous experience of vomiting/nausea caused by chemotherapy should be given an antiemetic prophylaxis.

KW - 5-HT3 antagonists

KW - Antiemetics

KW - Clinical practice

KW - Effectiveness

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UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=0035746387&partnerID=8YFLogxK

M3 - Article

C2 - 11989589

AN - SCOPUS:0035746387

SN - 0300-8916

VL - 87

SP - 379

EP - 382

JO - Tumori

JF - Tumori

IS - 6

ER -

Is an antiemetic prophylactic treatment needed for patients submitted to consecutive days of 5-fluorouracil? An observational study

Abstract

Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas

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