Prevention of chemotherapy- and radiotherapy-induced emesis: Results of the Perugia Consensus Conference

Background. The need to review and summarize the evidence concerning preventive treatment of cancer chemotherapy- and radiotherapy-induced emesis. Design: After a survey among experts the Antiemetic Subcommittee of the MASCC planned and held a Consensus Conference on antiemetic therapy. Recommendations were provided on the basis of scientific confidence and the level of consensus among the participating experts. Results and conclusions: A 5-HT3 antagonist plus dexamethasone is the regimen of choice in the prevention of acute emesis induced by single high, and low and repeated doses of cisplatin, and of acute emesis induced by moderately-high emetogenic chemotherapy (i.e., cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, epirubicin, carboplatin, used alone or in combination) in both adults and children. In the prevention of delayed emesis induced by cisplatin the most efficacious choice is a combination of dexamethasone with either metoclopramide or a 5-HT3 antagonist, while in moderately-high emetogenic chemotherapy dexamethasone alone or a 5-HT3 antagonist alone or their combination should be used. No evidence or consensus exists regarding antiemetic treatment for patients receiving low emetogenic chemotherapy, or about the optimal rescue treatment for patients failing antiemetic prophylaxis. The best treatment for anticipatory emesis is the best possible control of acute and delayed emesis. Although 5-HT3 antagonists have some efficacy in the prevention of acute emesis induced by high-dose chemotherapy, more studies should be carried out to determine the best preventive treatment. For prevention of acute emesis induced by highly/moderately emetogenic radiotherapy (TBI, irradiation of the upper part of the abdomen or of the whole abdomen/radiotherapy of the thorax, pelvis and lower body half) a 5-HT3 antagonist is the best choice.