Chemotherapy-induced emesis in elderly cancer patients: the role of 5-HT3-receptor antagonists in the first 24 hours.

OBJECTIVE: This review highlights the need to optimize 5-HT3-receptor-antagonist-based antiemetic therapy for elderly cancer patients, particularly during the first 24 h after receiving chemotherapy, based on knowledge of the chemotherapeutic regimen, comorbidity, polypharmacy, dosing convenience and age-related health.
BACKGROUND: The proportion of elderly people (over 65 years of age) in the general population is increasing. Compared with the general population, elderly people have a greater risk of serious diseases, such as cancer and cardiovascular disease. Their chemotherapy can be compromised by factors including comorbidity, declining organ function, polypharmacy, drug-drug interactions and cognitive impairments. The use of aprepitant in this elderly population with many concomitant medications is not discussed. Many chemotherapeutic regimens are highly emetogenic, and nausea and vomiting are rated among the most distressing side effects of chemotherapy. The emetogenic potential of various chemotherapy regimens is reviewed, demonstrating clear differences in severity and time of symptom onset. Such differences are particularly important during the first 24 h after administration, when control of emetic symptoms can help to prevent the occurrence of subsequent episodes. The matter is further complicated by inter-patient differences in susceptibility to nausea and vomiting resulting from multiple factors including gender, age and alcohol intake. Individual patient evaluation is essential to identify those patients most at risk. Elderly patients may also be particularly sensitive to the serious physiological and physical effects of nausea and vomiting. Education about symptom management needs to recognize specific learning barriers in the elderly, such as declining sensory perception or cognitive impairment. 5-HT3-receptor antagonists have long been the gold standard for treating chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting. Pharmacological differences between 5-HT3-receptor antagonists suggest the need for careful consideration of individual patient characteristics. Selection of the most appropriate agent will optimize antiemetic therapy for elderly cancer patients.
CONCLUSION: Chemotherapy-induced emesis in elderly cancer patients needs optimal control by a 5-HT3-receptor antagonist with uncomplicated 24-hour efficacy and good tolerability. Choosing a 5-HT3-receptor antagonist with a long duration of action, low risk of drug-drug interactions and once-daily dosing is important to ensure effective prophylaxis against nausea and vomiting in the elderly and simplify management for patients with cognitive impairment, declining organ function and comorbidity. Copyright 2005 S. Karger AG, Basel