Preventive Effects of Low-dose Dexamethasone for Delayed Adverse Events Induced by Carboplatin-based Combination Chemotherapy

• Published in: YAKUGAKU ZASSHI Vol. 127; no. 6; pp. 1001 - 1006
• Main Authors: TAKIGUCHI, Yoshiharu, TANAKA, Hiroaki, DOI, Chiaki, KANAJI, Nobuhiro, ISHIDA, Toshihiko, KAWAZOE, Hitoshi, FUKUOKA, Noriyasu, HOUCHI, Hitoshi, BANDOH, Shuji
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Japan The Pharmaceutical Society of Japan 01.06.2007; Pharmaceutical Society of Japan
• Subjects: Adult; adverse event; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Anorexia - chemically induced; Anorexia - prevention & control; Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols - adverse effects; carboplatin; Carboplatin - adverse effects; chemotherapy; dexamethasone; Dexamethasone - administration & dosage; Fatigue - chemically induced; Fatigue - prevention & control; Female; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; nausea; Nausea - chemically induced; Nausea - prevention & control; Retrospective Studies; Serotonin 5-HT3 Receptor Antagonists; Time Factors; Vomiting - chemically induced; Vomiting - prevention & control
• ISSN: 0031-6903; 1347-5231
• DOI: 10.1248/yakushi.127.1001

We performed a retrospective study to examine the protective effect of low-dose dexamethasone (DEX) on delayed adverse events induced by carboplatin (CBDCA)-based combination chemotherapy in patients with thoracic tumors. Low-dose DEX (4-8 mg/day) was administered on day 1 and after, in addition to a serotonin 5-HT3 receptor antagonist. The acute adverse events (day 1) were well controlled in the patients with or without co-treatment of DEX. On the other hand, the delayed nausea, emesis, anorexia, and fatigue after day 2 failed to be controlled by 5-HT3 antagonist alone. Co-treatment with DEX significantly suppressed the grade of the delayed adverse events during days 2-10. The mean ratio of complete protection during days 2-10 were significantly higher in the DEX-treated group compared with the non-DEX-treated group. These results reveal that low-dose DEX is a clinically effective treatment for the prevention of delayed adverse events induced by CBDCA-based combination chemotherapy.