Efficacy and safety of an increased-dose of dexamethasone in patients receiving fosaprepitant chemotherapy in Japan.

BACKGROUND Antiemetic triplet therapy including dexamethasone (DEX) is widely used for patients receiving highly emetogenic chemotherapy (HEC). In Japan, the appropriate dose of DEX has not been established for this combination. MATERIALS AND METHODS To assess the efficacy and safety of increased-dose DEX, we retrospectively examined patients receiving HEC with antiemetic triplet therapy. RESULTS Twenty-four patients (fosaprepitant group) were given an increased-dose of DEX (average total dose: 45.8mg), fosaprepitant, and 5-HT3 antagonist. A lower-dose of DEX (33.6mg), oral aprepitant, and 5-HT3 antagonist were administered to the other 48 patients (aprepitant group). The vomiting control rates in the fosaprepitant and aprepitant groups were 100% and 85.4% in the acute phase, and were 75.0% and 64.6% in the delayed phase. The incidences of toxicity were similar comparing the two groups. CONCLUSIONS Triplet therapy using an increased-dose of DEX is suggested to be safe and effective for patients receiving HEC.