The first cycle of RTX (1,000 mg on days one and 15) was administered after standard premedication, and patients were followed up on for a period of six months.
As a standard antiemetic therapy, 5-HT3 receptor antagonist (palonosetron 0.75 mg or granisetron 3 mg on day 1), NK-1 receptor antagonist (aprepitant 125 mg on day 1, 80 mg on days 2-3), andexamethasonene (9.9 mg on day 1, 6.6 mg on days 2 4) were administered.
In 3 studies comparing the addition of aprepitant (125 mg on day 1, 80 mg on days 2 and 3) to intravenous ondansetron 32 mg (on day 1) and oral dexamethasone (12 or 20 mg on days 1 and 8 or 16 mg on days 2 and 3), addition of aprepitant resulted in absolute increase in complete response rate from 11%to20%0%, favoring aprepitant.
An open-label, multicenter, phase II trial assessed the efficacy of intravenous single dose of palonosetron, along with dexamethasone (12 mg on day 1, 8 mg on days 2 and 3), and 3 daily oral doses of aprepitant (125 mg on day 1, 80 mg on days 2 and 3) in patients receiving MEC.
39 Patients were randomized to one of three arms: lenalidomide 10 mg on days 1 21 of a 28 day cycle, lenalidomide 5 mg daily, or placebo.
The multicenter, open-label study evaluated the safety and efficacy of a single intravenous dose of palonosetron, 0.25 mg on day 1 prior to chemotherapy in combination with three consecutive days of oral aprepitant (125 mg on day 1 and 80 mg on days 2 and 3), and three consecutive days of oral dexamethasone (12 mg on day 1 and 8 mg on days 2 and 3).
The aprepitant group received aprepitant 125 mg, ondansetron 32 mg i.v., and dexamethasone 12 mg on day 1, aprepitant 80 mg and dexamethasone 8 mg on days 2 3, and dexamethasone 8 mg on day 4. Patients had the option to receive the same blinded treatment for up to five additional cycles.
Patients were assigned in a blinded fashion to receive one of the following three regimens; group I, aprepitant 375 mg before cisplatin on day 1 and aprepitant 250 mg on days 2 5 (N=35); group II, aprepitant 125 mg before cisplatin on day 1 and aprepitant 80 mg on days 2-5 (N=81); group III placebo before cisplatin on days 2 5 (N=86).
The dexamethasone doses with palonosetron were 20 mg on Day 1 and 16 mg on Days 2 4 (with HEC).
Randomised first-line patients received BI 2536 200 mg on day 1 (n=43) or 60 mg on days 1 3 (n=43) every 21 days.
The average wholesale price for a course of aprepitant 125 mg on day 1 and 80 mg on days 2 and 3 is $US312 (Massaro & Lenz 2005).
