Kirkbride P, Bezjak A, Pater J, Zee B, Palmer MJ, Wong R, Cross P, Gulavita S, Blood P, Sun A, Dundas G, Ganguly PK, Lim J, Chowdhury AD, Kumar SE, Dar AR. Dexamethasone for the prophylaxis of radiation-induced emesis: a National Cancer Institute of Canada Clinical Trials Group phase III study.
J Clin Oncol 2000;
18:1960-6. [PMID:
10784638 DOI:
10.1200/jco.2000.18.9.1960]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 63] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE
To investigate the efficacy of dexamethasone as a prophylactic antiemetic for patients receiving fractionated radiotherapy to the upper abdomen in a randomized controlled trial.
PATIENTS AND METHODS
One hundred fifty-four patients planned to receive fractionated radiotherapy to fields involving the upper abdomen (minimum total dose, 20 Gy; minimum number of fractions, five) were randomized to receive prophylactic dexamethasone (2 mg orally three times a day [tid], starting in the morning of first treatment and continuing until after their fifth treatment) or placebo. The primary end point of the study was the proportion of patients free from emesis during the study period. Secondary end points included a quality-of-life assessment using the core questionnaire of the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer and side effects of dexamethasone therapy in this population of patients.
RESULTS
Fifty-four (70%) out of 75 patients receiving dexamethasone had complete protection versus 37 (49%) out of 75 patients on placebo (P = .025). Most emetic episodes occurred during the initial phase of treatment. Although there was no difference in global quality of life between the two sets of patients, patients receiving dexamethasone had less nausea and vomiting and less loss of appetite but more insomnia.
CONCLUSION
Dexamethasone 2 mg tid seems to be an effective prophylactic antiemetic in this situation. Side effects were acceptable, but there seemed to be no overall effect on global quality of life.
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