Comparative Emetogenicity Study of Cisplatin Alone and in Combination Regimen on Cancer Patients of Bangladesh

Background and Objective: To compare the prevalence of acute vomiting between patients receiving cisplatin as monotherapy or cisplatin in a combination regimen.Materials and Methods: The study was conducted at Delta Hospital Dhaka on a total of 70 patients (44 male and 26 female).The patients received either cisplatin alone or cisplatin with the following chemotherapeutic agents-docetaxel and 5 fluorouracil, docetaxel, etoposide, doxorubicin and capecitabine.The study was conducted in patients receiving chemotherapy for a total of the first 3 cycles.The patients were told to record the number of episodes of vomiting they experienced during the first 24 h after chemotherapy at each cycle.All 70 patients received prechemotherapy antiemetics a combination of 5HT 3 receptor antagonist (ondansetron or palanosetron) and dexamethasone prior to chemotherapy.Results: In patients receiving the combination chemotherapy of cisplatin+docetaxel+5 FU experienced the lowest incidence of acute vomiting and cisplatin+capecitabine receiving patients experienced highest incidence of acute vomiting.All the other combination therapy resulted in emesis comparatively similar to that of cisplatin.In all the regimens except for cisplatin+etoposide the percentage of patients experiencing acute vomiting reduced along with progressive cycles.Conclusion: When cisplatin is given in combination regimen except for the combination regimen of cisplatin+capecitabine there is no significant increase in emesis between patients receiving cisplatin alone or in combination therapy.