Supportive care in cancer : official journal of the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer
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Support Care Cancer · Jul 1996
Clinical TrialGranisetron plus dexamethasone in moderately emetogenic chemotherapy: evaluation of activity during three consecutive courses of chemotherapy.
In this study we evaluated the antiemetic activity of a combination of 3 mg granisetron in a short i.v. infusion followed by 12 mg dexamethasone i.v. in 64 patients with cancer receiving moderately emetogenic chemotherapy scheduled in a single day. No patient had previously undergone chemotherapy and three consecutive cycles were evaluated. Response to antiemetic treatment was graded as follows: complete response, no episodes of vomiting; major response, only one episode; minor response, two to four episodes; failure, more than four episodes. ⋯ The antiemetic and antinausea efficacy remained substantially unchanged during the second and third cycles of chemotherapy. Constipation and headache were the most frequent adverse events. In conclusion this antiemetic regimen appears very effective in preventing nausea and vomiting in moderately emetogenic chemotherapy.
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Support Care Cancer · Jul 1996
Supportive care programs in cancer at the National Cancer Center in Tokyo.
Until recently, supportive care for cancer patients in Japan was not well organized. Not too many oncologists paid attention to the improvement of daily life of patients with advanced or terminal cancer. Oncological staffs such as doctors, nurses, psychologists, and pharmacists at hospitals in Japan did not really cooperate efficiently. ⋯ At the National Cancer Center in Japan an effort is being made to expand activities in PCU, the application of Chinese acupuncture for pain relief, and the development of a virtual reality technique. A system to connect cancer centers has been established and is now being expanded to facilitate a new database on up-to-date cancer information. We have already started holding multi-institutional medical teleconferences, telepathology and teleradiology on a weekly basis, covering nine cancer centers throughout Japan.