European journal of cancer : official journal for European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) [and] European Association for Cancer Research (EACR)
-
Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter Study Clinical Trial
Intravenous granisetron--establishing the optimal dose. The Granisetron Study Group.
Three double-blind, dose-ranging studies, involving 996 chemotherapy-naive patients, were conducted to determine the optimal prophylactic dose of intravenous (i.v.) granisetron for prevention of cytotoxic-induced emesis. The antiemetic efficacy of prophylactic i.v. granisetron doses ranging from 2-40 micrograms/kg (study 1) and 40-160 micrograms/kg (study 2) were examined in patients receiving high-dose cisplatin regimens. In study 3, i.v. doses of 40 and 160 micrograms/kg were compared in patients receiving other emetogenic cytotoxic therapies. ⋯ Granisetron was well tolerated across the dose range examined and no dose-related toxicity was observed. In conclusion, a single 40 micrograms/kg prophylactic dose provides optimal control of cytotoxic-induced nausea and vomiting. A simple 3 mg single-dose i.v. regimen (equivalent to 40 micrograms/kg in a 75 kg person) is recommended for prevention of acute emesis associated with all cytotoxic regimens.
-
Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter Study Comparative Study Clinical Trial
A single-blind study of the efficacy and safety of intravenous granisetron compared with alizapride plus dexamethasone in the prophylaxis and control of emesis in patients receiving 5-day cytostatic therapy. The Granisetron Study Group.
200 cancer patients who were due to receive fractionated chemotherapy (cisplatin greater than or equal to 15, ifosfamide greater than or equal to 1.2 or etoposide greater than or equal to 120, all mg/m2 per day) for 5 days, entered a multicentre study. Patients were randomised single-blind to receive either prophylactic intravenous granisetron (40 micrograms/kg) or alizapride (4 mg/kg followed by 4 mg/kg at 4 and 8 h post-treatment) plus dexamethasone 8 mg. Granistron was superior to the combination in preventing nausea and vomiting (54% vs. 43% complete responders). ⋯ Fewer patients receiving granisetron experienced adverse events (48% vs. 62%, P = 0.047). The frequency of constipation was, as expected, significantly higher in the granisetron group. Extrapyramidal effects, which were not noted by any granisetron patient, occurred in 5.3% of comparator patients.