Effective Control of Moderate-Dose Cisplatin-induced Emesis by a Short-Course Regimen Including Metoclopramide, Chlorpromazine and Hydrocortisone: Results of a Randomized Trial with Metoclopramide Alone

Abstract

To improve the antiemetic effectiveness of a previously selected short regimen of moderate-dose metoclopramide (MCP), 80 patients were randomized to receive MCP either alone (regimen A) or in combination with low-dose chlorpromazine (CLP) and high-dose hydrocortisone (HDC) (regimen B) with the first course of cisplatin (50 mg/m²). The antiemetic effect was assessed over a 24-hour period only by objective means (duration and volume of vomiting in overnight fasting patients). The response was classified as follows: no emesis (absence of vomiting), partial protection (up to 100 ml of vomiting) and antiemetic failure (more than 100 ml). For regimen A, this study confirms the results previously reported over a 6-hour period. Regimen B provided better emetic control, significantly reducing the prevalence (p = 0.03) and severity (p = 0.02) of emesis, as well as the median volume (p <0.006) and duration (p <0.02) of vomiting. Except for the higher incidence of sedation, neither limiting nor unexpected toxicities were observed with the multidrug regimen. The male sex and antiemetic regimen B were the only favorable independent prognostic factors recognized by means of a multivariate analysis using a logistic model. This study therefore shows the usefulness of combining a lower dose of MCP and CLP, together with a high-dose HDC in a short regimen, suitable for outpatients receiving moderate-dose cisplatin. The better emesis control in the highly resistant group of female patients warrants further studies and a more aggressive approach.