New treatment to prevent nausea during chemotherapy

This trial examined the antiemetic drug NEPA (Akynzeo) at combating chemotherapy induced nausea and vomiting in patients with lung cancer. The authors concluded that NEPA is effective at reducing nausea and is well tolerated in these patients.

For many cancers, chemotherapy is the gold standard for treatment. Chemotherapy drugs, including cisplatin (Platinol) or carboplatin (Paraplatin), can cause serious side effects. Chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting (CINV) is a common side effect. CINV can negatively affect a patients’ quality of life, reduce appetite, or result in a dose reduction of treatment. Antiemetic drugs such as NEPA (Akynzeo) are used to help with CINV. It is important to understand the safety and effectiveness of NEPA.

This study aimed to determine the effectiveness of NEPA for treating CINV in patients with lung cancer. The results of two separate studies with a combined 624 patients were examined. Of these, 231 patients had lung cancer.

Patients treated with NEPA had high complete response (CR, no vomiting experienced) across all phases of chemotherapy treatment. Patients treated with cisplatin had CR greater than 88%, while patients treated with carboplatin had CR greater than 75%. These high CR rates were sustained across multiple cycles of chemotherapy. There were also low rates of reported nausea.

Other side effects were typical of patients on chemotherapy. These included hiccups, physical weakness, low white blood cell counts, low hemoglobin levels (anemia), headache, and hair loss.

The authors concluded that NEPA treatment was effective and well tolerated in patients with lung cancer on chemotherapy.