aprepitant and Feeding-and-Eating-Disorders

The efficacy and safety of aprepitant(APR)were examined in cancer patients who received chemotherapy including cisplatin(CDDP)at a dose of ≥ 50mg/m2.APR was administered concomitantly with conventional antiemetic therapy to 20 patients(APR group)in a prospective study performed from May to July 2010. In addition, a retrospective study based on medical records of 20 patients(conventional therapy group)from February to April 2010 was performed.These patients received antiemetic therapy with a serotonin receptor antagonist and dexamethasone. Significantly more patients did not vomit in the 5-day study period(days 1-5).Also, severity of vomiting was significantly improved over the 5-day period and in the late phase(days 2-5)in the APR group, compared to the conventional therapy group. Loss of appetite was significantly improved over the 5-day period and the acute(day 1)and late phases, leading to increased food intake during the 5-day period and late phase. There were no adverse events with suspected involvement of APR, and the tolerability was favorable. These results suggest that APR is useful for nausea, vomiting, and appetite loss caused by CDDP, which is a highly emetic drug, and that such guideline-based antiemetic therapy might improve the quality of life of patients.

Topics: Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Antiemetics; Antineoplastic Agents; Aprepitant; Cisplatin; Feeding and Eating Disorders; Female; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Morpholines; Nausea; Neoplasms; Retrospective Studies; Vomiting