casopitant and Nausea

The addition of neurokinin-1 receptor (NK1R) antagonists to antiemetic regimens has substantially reduced chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting (CINV). We sought to systematically review the overall impact of NK1R antagonists on CINV prevention.. We systematically searched the MEDLINE, EMBASE, and CENTRAL databases, and meeting proceedings for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that evaluated NK1R antagonists plus standard antiemetic therapy for CINV prevention. Complete response (CR) to therapy was defined as the absence of emesis and the absence of rescue therapy. The endpoints were defined as CR in the overall phase (during the first 120 hours of chemotherapy), CR in the acute phase (first 24 hours), and the delayed phase (24-120 hours) after chemotherapy, nausea, and toxicity. Subgroup analyses evaluated the type of NK1R antagonist used, the emetogenic potential of the chemotherapy regimen, and prolonged use of 5-HT3 (serotonin) receptor antagonists, a class of standard antiemetic agents. Odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated using a random-effects model. Statistical tests for heterogeneity were one-sided; statistical tests for effect estimates and publication bias were two-sided.. Seventeen trials (8740 patients) were included in this analysis. NK1R antagonists increased the CR rate in the overall phase from 54% to 72% (OR = 0.51, 95% CI = 0.46 to 0.57, P < .001). CR and nausea were improved in all phases and subgroups. The expected side effects from NK1R antagonists did not statistically significantly differ from previous reports; however, this analysis suggests that the incidence of severe infection increased from 2% to 6% in the NK1R antagonist group (three RCTs with a total of 1480 patients; OR = 3.10; 95% CI = 1.69 to 5.67, P < .001).. NK1R antagonists increased CINV control in the acute, delayed, and overall phases. They are effective for both moderately and highly emetogenic chemotherapy regimens. Their use might be associated with increased infection rates; however, additional appraisal of specific data from RCTs is needed.

Topics: Antiemetics; Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols; Aprepitant; Confidence Intervals; Humans; Infections; Morpholines; Nausea; Neoplasms; Neurokinin-1 Receptor Antagonists; Odds Ratio; Piperazines; Piperidines; Practice Guidelines as Topic; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; Serotonin 5-HT3 Receptor Antagonists; Vomiting

Chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting (CINV) is associated with a significant deterioration in quality of life. The emetogenicity of the chemotherapeutic agents, repeated chemotherapy cycles, and patient risk factors significantly influence CINV. 5-hydroxytryptamine-3 (5-HT(3)) receptor antagonists plus dexamethasone have significantly improved the control of acute CINV, but delayed CINV remains a significant clinical problem. Two new agents, palonosetron and aprepitant, have been approved for the prevention of both acute and delayed CINV. Palonosetron is a second-generation 5-HT(3) receptor antagonist with a longer half-life and a higher binding affinity than first-generation 5-HT(3) receptor antagonists. Aprepitant is the first agent available in the new drug class of neurokinin-1 (NK-1) receptor antagonists. Casopitant is another NK-1 receptor antagonist that is under review by the FDA after recent completion of Phase III clinical trials. The introduction of these new agents has generated revised antiemetic guidelines for the prevention of CINV. Future studies may consider the use of palonosetron, aprepitant and casopitant with other antiemetic agents (olanzapine, gabapentin, cannabinoids) in moderately and highly emetogenic chemotherapy, as well as in the clinical settings of multiple-day chemotherapy and bone marrow transplantation.

Topics: Antiemetics; Antineoplastic Agents; Aprepitant; Clinical Trials, Phase III as Topic; Humans; Isoquinolines; Morpholines; Nausea; Palonosetron; Piperazines; Piperidines; Quinuclidines; Serotonin Antagonists; Vomiting

The effective treatment of emetic complications of cancer therapies has remained a challenging task for cancer patients and their cancer care providers. Despite striking advances in antiemetic interventions, the need for more personalized targeted treatments in those who fail to response to the currently available antiemetic agents are yet to be met. Casopitant, a potent selective inhibitor of neurokinin-1 receptors, is a product of the increasingly heightened interest in this particular subset of cancer patients. The current review examines the emerging data about the benefits and safety of casopitant for treatment of chemotherapy-induced acute and delayed emesis, as well as the postoperative nausea/vomiting. Although preclinical studies promoted the notion of a potential superiority of casopitant over the already approved aprepitant in enhancing food and fluid intake, the limited comparison in clinical settings have yet to affirm a demonstratable meaningful superiority. The prevailing view from the published prospective studies supports a single 100 or 150 mg dose schedule of casopitant, orally or intravenously, as an effective and safe prophylaxis for acute and delayed emesis. The relative inferior outcomes of "nausea" control, as compared to a more impressive "vomiting" prevention, are similarly shared by both casopitant and aprepitant. This repeated and disappointing observation has challenged the precision and accuracy of our current understandings about the exact fabric of the "emesis axis." The future efforts should be directed to identify more effective agents for managing nausea and anticipatory emesis equally in both genders.

Topics: Antiemetics; Antineoplastic Agents; Humans; Nausea; Neoplasms; Piperazines; Piperidines; Vomiting

Casopitant, an inhibitor of the neurokinin-1 receptor, and its mesylate salt, are being developed by GlaxoSmithKline plc for the potential treatment of chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting (CINV), post-operative nausea and vomiting (PONV), as well as for anxiety, depression and insomnia. Phase II trials are ongoing for anxiety, depression and insomnia, and further results are awaited from phase III trials of CINV and PONV. At the time of publication, it was expected that applications to the FDA for regulatory approval for CINV and PONV would be filed in 2008. Casopitant was previously being developed for the treatment of overactive bladder; however, in September 2007, this indication was no longer listed on the company's product pipeline.

Topics: Animals; Antiemetics; Anxiety Disorders; Clinical Trials as Topic; Contraindications; Depressive Disorder, Major; Drug Evaluation, Preclinical; Female; Fibromyalgia; Humans; Nausea; Neurokinin-1 Receptor Antagonists; Patents as Topic; Piperazines; Piperidines; Postoperative Nausea and Vomiting; Structure-Activity Relationship; Urinary Bladder, Overactive; Vomiting

The primary objective was to determine if a single dose of casopitant 90 mg added to ondansetron and dexamethasone would improve the control of chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting (CINV) over 0-120 h following initiation of oxaliplatin-based moderately emetic chemotherapy (MEC) compared to ondansetron and dexamethasone alone.. Patients with colorectal cancer received either casopitant or placebo intravenously (IV) added to ondansetron 8 mg bid oral on study days 1 to 3 and one dose of dexamethasone 8 mg IV given prior to starting the oxaliplatin on day 1. The primary endpoint was the percentage of subjects achieving complete response (CR; no vomiting/retching or use of rescue medication) during 120 h after initiation of chemotherapy in cycle 1.. No difference in the rate of CR was noted in the casopitant group compared to the placebo group for the overall (placebo 85%, casopitant 86%, p = 0.7273), acute (placebo 96%, casopitant 97%), or delayed phases (placebo 85%, casopitant 86%). The average area under curve (0-∞) of casopitant after a single 90-mg IV dose was 8,390 ng h/mL. At 24 h after casopitant 90-mg IV dosing, the plasma casopitant concentration was 24% lower than the values noted in prior studies with 150 mg oral administration, and the plasma exposure of the major metabolite (GSK525060) was 18% lower.. Addition of single-dose casopitant 90 mg IV did not improve the control of CINV at any time during 120 h following initiation of oxaliplatin-based MEC. Excellent control of CINV was achieved in this study population with the combination of ondansetron and dexamethasone alone.

Topics: Aged; Antiemetics; Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols; Area Under Curve; Colorectal Neoplasms; Dexamethasone; Double-Blind Method; Drug Therapy, Combination; Female; Humans; Infusions, Intravenous; Male; Middle Aged; Nausea; Ondansetron; Organoplatinum Compounds; Oxaliplatin; Piperazines; Piperidines; Time Factors; Treatment Outcome; Vomiting

The control of chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting (CINV) is critical in preventing poor health outcomes and increasing patient quality of life. The objective of this study was to evaluate the impact of the addition of casopitant to dual-combination therapy of dexamethasone and ondansetron on quality of life in patients receiving highly emetogenic chemotherapy (HEC).. In a multicenter, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled, add-on trial (N = 810), patients were randomized to intravenous (IV) ondansetron/dexamethasone alone (control) or in combination with either a single 150-mg oral dose of casopitant or 3-day IV/oral casopitant. Quality of life was assessed as impact of nausea and vomiting on daily life using the Functional Living Index Emesis (FLIE) questionnaire. Patients completed the FLIE questionnaire at baseline prior to receiving chemotherapy and after completion of the first cycle of HEC.. Patients in the single oral dose and 3-day IV/oral casopitant groups scored higher mean total FLIE scores (115.7 and 114.0, respectively; p ≤ 0.0332) than patients in the control group (107.5), indicating that casopitant patients experienced less impact from nausea and vomiting on daily life. The overall absolute difference in the proportion of patients reporting CINV with no impact on daily life between the single oral casopitant group and the control group was 13%; the difference between the 3-day IV/oral casopitant group and the control group was 14%.. The addition of casopitant to ondansetron and dexamethasone in patients receiving HEC was significantly more effective in reducing the impact of nausea and vomiting on all daily life activities as assessed by the FLIE compared with ondansetron/dexamethasone dual therapy.

Topics: Activities of Daily Living; Administration, Oral; Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Antiemetics; Antineoplastic Agents; Dexamethasone; Double-Blind Method; Drug Therapy, Combination; Female; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Nausea; Neoplasms; Ondansetron; Piperazines; Piperidines; Quality of Life; Surveys and Questionnaires; Vomiting; Young Adult

Drug rechallenge (or reinitiation), following an event of drug-induced liver injury, is associated with 13% mortality in prospective series. Rechallenge generally results in much more rapid injury than the initial liver event. The neurokinin-1 antagonist casopitant or its placebo was administered cyclically with ondansetron and dexamethasone in two randomized chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting clinical trials in nearly 3000 subjects. Grade 3 ALT elevations were observed in up to 2% of subjects receiving casopitant or placebo treatment. Similar rates of positive rechallenge were observed in the casopitant 8/29 (28%) and placebo groups 2/8 (25%), with no Grade 4 ALT elevations, hypersensitivity or liver-related serious adverse events. Publishing available rechallenge data (positive and negative) will advance our clinical understanding. Rechallenge should only be considered when the potential drug benefit exceeds the risk.

Topics: Administration, Oral; Antiemetics; Antineoplastic Agents; Dexamethasone; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Female; Humans; Male; Nausea; Neurokinin-1 Receptor Antagonists; Ondansetron; Piperazines; Piperidines; Serotonin Antagonists; Vomiting

Pharmacokinetic interactions between casopitant (a substrate and weak to moderate inhibitor of CYP3A), dexamethasone (a substrate and weak inducer of CYP3A), and ondansetron (a mixed CYP substrate) were evaluated in a two-part, three-period, single-sequence study in two groups of healthy subjects.. Part 1: subjects received oral casopitant (regimen A); oral dexamethasone and IV ondansetron (regimen B); and oral casopitant, a reduced dose of oral dexamethasone, and IV ondansetron (regimen C). Part 2: subjects received oral casopitant (regimen D); IV dexamethasone and oral ondansetron (regimen E); and oral casopitant, IV dexamethasone, and oral ondansetron (regimen F). Each regimen was separated by 14 days.. Casopitant AUC in regimen C was increased 28% on day 1 but decreased 34% on day 3 compared to casopitant alone in regimen A. When given with casopitant and ondansetron in regimen C, dexamethasone AUC was 17% lower on day 1, but similar on day 3, compared to regimen B (representing dose-normalized increases in exposure of 39% and 108%, respectively). Ondansetron exposure was equivalent in regimens B and C. Casopitant AUC in regimen F was similar to regimen D on days 1 and 3. Dexamethasone AUC increased 21% when given with oral casopitant and oral ondansetron (regimen F compared to regimen E). Ondansetron exposure was equivalent in regimens E and F.. When repeat-dose oral dexamethasone is to be coadministered with oral casopitant, a reduction in dexamethasone dose may be considered; however, no change in casopitant dose is required. Ondansetron exposure was not affected by coadministration with casopitant.

Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Antiemetics; Dexamethasone; Drug Therapy, Combination; Drug-Related Side Effects and Adverse Reactions; Female; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Nausea; Neurokinin-1 Receptor Antagonists; Ondansetron; Piperazines; Piperidines; Vomiting; Young Adult

The objective of this study was to characterize the impact of casopitant, a novel neurokinin-1 receptor antagonist under investigation for the prevention of postoperative and chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting, on the pharmacokinetics of the commonly prescribed 5-hydroxytryptamine receptor 3 receptor antagonists, dolasetron or granisetron.. In a phase I, open-label, two-part, two-period, single-sequence study, two cohorts of healthy subjects received either oral dolasetron (100 mg once daily for 3 days) or oral granisetron (2 mg once daily for 3 days) alone (period 1) and combined with oral casopitant, 150 mg day 1, 50 mg days 2 and 3 (period 2). Pharmacokinetics of hydrodolasetron and granisetron were assessed on days 1 and 3 of each period. Log-transformed area under the curve (AUC) and Cmax were statistically analyzed by performing an analysis of variance. Eighteen subjects were enrolled in the dolasetron cohort; nine subjects were CYP2D6 extensive metabolizers (EMs) and nine subjects were CYP2D6 poor metabolizers. Nineteen subjects were enrolled in the granisetron cohort.. The largest changes in hydrodolasetron exposure after coadministration with casopitant were seen in CYP2D6 EMs, with a 24% increase in hydrodolasetron AUC on day 1 and 30% increase in Cmax on days 1 and 3. All other changes in hydrodolasetron exposure were <20%, and granisetron exposure was not altered to any relevant extent (<11%).. None of the changes observed are considered clinically meaningful, and coadministration of casopitant with dolasetron or granisetron was well tolerated.

Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Antiemetics; Drug Therapy, Combination; Drug-Related Side Effects and Adverse Reactions; Female; Granisetron; Humans; Indoles; Male; Middle Aged; Nausea; Piperazines; Piperidines; Quinolizines; Vomiting; Young Adult

Chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting (CINV) remains a clinical management problem after treatment with highly emetogenic chemotherapy (HEC). We therefore designed and carried out a multicentre, randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial to assess whether a three-drug antiemetic regimen of ondansetron, dexamethasone, and the neurokinin-1-receptor antagonist casopitant mesylate was able to prevent acute and delayed CINV events in patients naive to chemotherapy with a malignant solid tumour who were scheduled to receive cisplatin-based HEC regimens.. The study was done between Nov 6, 2006, and Oct 9, 2007, in 77 participating centres in 22 countries. All 810 patients enrolled in the trial received dexamethasone and ondansetron. Patients were randomly assigned to also receive placebo (n=269), single oral dose of casopitant mesylate (150 mg oral, n=271), or 3-day intravenous plus oral casopitant mesylate (90 mg intravenous on day 1 plus 50 mg oral on days 2 and 3, n=270). Randomisation was done using a central telephone system at the study level, because some centres were expected to recruit only a few patients during the study period. The primary endpoint was the proportion of patients achieving complete response (no vomiting, retching, or use of rescue medications) in the first 120 h after receiving HEC. Efficacy analysis was done on the modified intention-to-treat population (n=800), which included all patients who received placebo or study drug and HEC (n=265 control, n=266 single-dose oral casopitant mesylate, n=269 3-day intravenous and oral casopitant mesylate). Safety was reported in 802 patients who received either placebo or study medication. This study is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT00431236.. Significantly more patients in each casopitant group achieved complete response in cycle 1 of HEC treatment than did those in the control group (175 [66%] patients in the control group, 228 [86%] in the single-dose oral casopitant mesylate group [p<0.0001 vs control], and 214 [80%] in the 3-day intravenous plus oral casopitant mesylate group (p=0.0004 vs control]). This improvement was sustained over multiple cycles of HEC. Adverse events occurred in 205 (77%) patients in the single-dose oral casopitant mesylate group and 203 (75%) patients in the 3-day intravenous and oral casopitant mesylate group compared with 194 (73%) of patients in the control group. The most common serious adverse events were neutropenia (n=5 [3%] in the control group, n=3 [1%] in the single-dose oral casopitant mesylate group, and n=11 [4%] in the 3-day intravenous plus oral casopitant mesylate group), febrile neutropenia (n=1 [<1%] in the control group, n=4 [1%] in the single-dose oral casopitant mesylate group, and n=6 [2%] in the 3-day intravenous plus oral casopitant mesylate group), and dehydration (n=4 [2%] in the control group, n=2 [<1%] in the single-dose oral casopitant mesylate group, and n=1 [<1%] in the 3-day intravenous plus oral casopitant mesylate group).. A three-drug regimen including a single oral dose or 3-day intravenous plus oral regimen of casopitant mesylate plus dexamethasone and ondansetron significantly reduced CINV events in patients receiving HEC compared with a two-drug regimen of dexamethasone and ondansetron.. GlaxoSmithKline.

Topics: Administration, Oral; Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Antiemetics; Antineoplastic Agents; Cisplatin; Double-Blind Method; Drug Therapy, Combination; Female; Humans; Infusion Pumps; Male; Middle Aged; Molecular Structure; Nausea; Neoplasms; Neurokinin-1 Receptor Antagonists; Piperazines; Piperidines; Vomiting; Young Adult

Casopitant mesylate is a novel, oral neurokinin-1 receptor antagonist with demonstrated antiemetic efficacy. We conducted a randomized, double-blind, controlled phase II trial to evaluate three casopitant doses as part of a triple-therapy regimen for the prevention of nausea and vomiting associated with high-dose cisplatin. The aim of the study was to detect a dose response.. A total of 493 patients with solid tumors receiving a first cycle of cisplatin > or =70 mg/m(2) were randomly assigned among six treatment arms. The primary analysis compared a control arm [ondansetron/dexamethasone (Ond/Dex)] with three investigational treatments (Ond/Dex plus oral casopitant 50, 100, or 150 mg administered daily for 3 days). Two exploratory arms were included: one evaluating a single oral casopitant dose of 150 mg added to standard Ond/Dex and another with 3-day oral aprepitant-based therapy (Ond/Dex plus aprepitant 125 mg day 1, 80 mg days 2-3).. The complete response (CR) rate (defined as no vomiting, retching, rescue therapy, or premature discontinuation) was significantly increased in each casopitant arm relative to control over the 120-h evaluation period: 76% (50 mg), 86% (100 mg), 77% (150 mg), and 60% with control (P = 0.0036). The CR rate for the single oral dose regimen was similar to the CR rate reported for the 3-day regimens. No differences were observed in the incidence of nausea or significant nausea among groups in the primary analysis. The most common adverse events related to treatment included headache (n = 10) and hiccups (n = 14).. All doses of oral casopitant as a 3-day regimen (and likely as a 150-mg single oral dose) in combination with Ond/Dex provided significant improvement in the prevention of cisplatin-induced emesis.

Topics: Administration, Oral; Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Antiemetics; Antineoplastic Agents; Cisplatin; Dexamethasone; Double-Blind Method; Drug Therapy, Combination; Female; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Nausea; Neoplasms; Neurokinin-1 Receptor Antagonists; Ondansetron; Piperazines; Piperidines; Receptors, Neurokinin-1; Vomiting

The purpose of this phase III trial was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of regimens containing casopitant, a novel neurokinin-1 receptor antagonist, for the prevention of chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting during the first cycle in patients receiving moderately emetogenic chemotherapy (MEC).. Predominantly female patients (98%) diagnosed with breast cancer (96%) who were chemotherapy-naïve and scheduled to receive an anthracycline and cyclophosphamide (AC) -based regimen were enrolled onto this multinational, randomized, double-blind, parallel-group, placebo-controlled clinical trial. All patients received dexamethasone 8 mg intravenously (IV) on day 1 and oral ondansetron 8 mg twice daily on days 1 to 3. Patients were randomly assigned to a control arm (placebo), a single oral dose casopitant arm (150 mg orally [PO] on day 1), a 3-day oral casopitant arm (150 mg PO on day 1 plus 50 mg PO on days 2 to 3), or a 3-day IV/oral casopitant arm (90 mg IV on day 1 plus 50 mg PO on days 2 to 3). The primary end point was the proportion of patients achieving complete response (no vomiting/retching or rescue medications) in the first 120 hours after the initiation of MEC.. A significantly greater proportion of patients in the single-dose oral casopitant arm, 3-day oral casopitant arm, and 3-day IV/oral casopitant arm achieved complete response (73%, 73%, and 74%, respectively) versus control (59%; P < .0001). The study did not demonstrate a reduced proportion of patients with nausea or significant nausea in those receiving casopitant. Adverse events were balanced among study arms.. All casopitant regimens studied were more effective than the control regimen. Casopitant was generally well tolerated.

Topics: Administration, Oral; Alopecia; Anthracyclines; Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols; Breast Neoplasms; Constipation; Cyclophosphamide; Dexamethasone; Double-Blind Method; Drug Therapy, Combination; Female; Headache; Humans; Injections, Intravenous; Kaplan-Meier Estimate; Male; Middle Aged; Nausea; Neoplasms; Neurokinin-1 Receptor Antagonists; Neutropenia; Ondansetron; Piperazines; Piperidines; Treatment Outcome; Vomiting

This randomized, double-blind, dose-ranging, placebo-controlled, phase 2 trial evaluated the neurokinin-1 receptor antagonist casopitant mesylate in combination with ondansetron/dexamethasone (ond/dex) for the prevention of chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting (CINV) related to moderately emetogenic chemotherapy (MEC).. Chemotherapy-naive patients who were receiving MEC (N=723) were randomized to receive either oral placebo or casopitant at doses of 50 mg, 100 mg, or 150 mg daily (on Days 1-3) plus ondansetron (on Days 1-3) and dexamethasone (Day 1). Two exploratory arms evaluated single-dose casopitant (150 mg) plus ond/dex and a 3-day casopitant regimen with once-daily ondansetron and dexamethasone. Primary endpoints were rates of complete response (CR) (no vomiting, retching, rescue therapy, or premature discontinuation) and significant nausea (SN) (>or=25 mm on a visual analog scale) over the first 120 hours after Cycle 1 of MEC. Secondary endpoints included acute and delayed CR and SN rates, rates of nausea, vomiting, and safety.. All casopitant doses that were tested significantly increased the proportion of patients with CR: The CR rates were 80.8% with casopitant 50 mg, 78.5% with casopitant 100 mg, and 84.2% with casopitant 150 mg compared with 69.4% in the control group (P=.0127); casopitant 150 mg was identified as the minimally effective dose. In exploratory analyses, single-dose casopitant demonstrated a 79.2% CR rate, and once-daily ondansetron plus casopitant produced an 83.5% CR rate. Vomiting rates in the first 5 days after MEC were reduced with casopitant-containing regimens (from 23% to 10%-16%). Rates of SN did not differ among treatment arms (range, 28%-29%). Casopitant appeared to be well tolerated with no notable differences in overall adverse event frequency.. Casopitant plus ond/dex was more effective than ond/dex alone for the prevention of CINV.

Topics: Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Antiemetics; Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols; Dexamethasone; Double-Blind Method; Drug Administration Schedule; Female; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Nausea; Neurokinin-1 Receptor Antagonists; Ondansetron; Piperazines; Piperidines; Vomiting