Omission of dexamethasone in prophylaxis for highly emetogenic chemotherapy in patients with breast cancer

ABSTRACT Objective Chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting are highly prevalent adverse events that can lead to poor treatment adherence and a decreased quality of life. To the best of our knowledge, the complete omission of dexamethasone from any regimen for preventing nausea and vomiting has no...

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Main Authors: Camilla Vieira de Rebouças, Rafaela de Brito Alves, Alayne Magalhães Trindade Domingues Yamada, Auro del Giglio, Felipe José Silva Melo Cruz
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Instituto Israelita de Ensino e Pesquisa Albert Einstein 2025-05-01
Series:Einstein (São Paulo)
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Online Access:http://www.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S1679-45082025000100225&lng=en&tlng=en
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author Camilla Vieira de Rebouças
Rafaela de Brito Alves
Alayne Magalhães Trindade Domingues Yamada
Auro del Giglio
Felipe José Silva Melo Cruz
author_facet Camilla Vieira de Rebouças
Rafaela de Brito Alves
Alayne Magalhães Trindade Domingues Yamada
Auro del Giglio
Felipe José Silva Melo Cruz
author_sort Camilla Vieira de Rebouças
collection DOAJ
description ABSTRACT Objective Chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting are highly prevalent adverse events that can lead to poor treatment adherence and a decreased quality of life. To the best of our knowledge, the complete omission of dexamethasone from any regimen for preventing nausea and vomiting has not yet been evaluated. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of a three-drug protocol without corticosteroids for preventing nausea and vomiting. Methods This prospective, single-arm, phase II study was designed to evaluate the efficacy of olanzapine, netupitant, and palonosetron in controlling nausea and vomiting induced by emetogenic chemotherapy. Patients were assigned to receive olanzapine on days 1-5 and netupitant and palonosetron on day 1. No corticosteroids were administered. The primary endpoint was complete nausea control during the first 5 days after chemotherapy. Secondary endpoints included complete emesis control (no emesis and no use of rescue medication) and overall complete control (no emesis, no rescue medication, and no nausea). Results The complete nausea control rate was 46% (95% confidence interval [95%CI] 0.32-0.59). The emesis control rate was 68% (95%CI= 0.55-0.80), and the overall control rate was 46% (95%CI= 0.32-0.59). Conclusion These findings suggest that omitting dexamethasone in highly emetogenic chemotherapy is feasible and results in nausea and vomiting control rates similar to those of the standard four-drug protocol. However, randomized controlled trials are required to confirm this hypothesis.
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spelling doaj-art-ea18fbbd6a6543efa3bfbe5121924d302025-08-20T03:47:24ZengInstituto Israelita de Ensino e Pesquisa Albert EinsteinEinstein (São Paulo)2317-63852025-05-012310.31744/einstein_journal/2025ao1124Omission of dexamethasone in prophylaxis for highly emetogenic chemotherapy in patients with breast cancerCamilla Vieira de Rebouçashttps://orcid.org/0000-0001-7333-398XRafaela de Brito Alveshttps://orcid.org/0000-0002-5416-1163Alayne Magalhães Trindade Domingues Yamadahttps://orcid.org/0000-0001-9778-6123Auro del Gigliohttps://orcid.org/0000-0002-2009-824XFelipe José Silva Melo Cruzhttps://orcid.org/0000-0002-4558-4850ABSTRACT Objective Chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting are highly prevalent adverse events that can lead to poor treatment adherence and a decreased quality of life. To the best of our knowledge, the complete omission of dexamethasone from any regimen for preventing nausea and vomiting has not yet been evaluated. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of a three-drug protocol without corticosteroids for preventing nausea and vomiting. Methods This prospective, single-arm, phase II study was designed to evaluate the efficacy of olanzapine, netupitant, and palonosetron in controlling nausea and vomiting induced by emetogenic chemotherapy. Patients were assigned to receive olanzapine on days 1-5 and netupitant and palonosetron on day 1. No corticosteroids were administered. The primary endpoint was complete nausea control during the first 5 days after chemotherapy. Secondary endpoints included complete emesis control (no emesis and no use of rescue medication) and overall complete control (no emesis, no rescue medication, and no nausea). Results The complete nausea control rate was 46% (95% confidence interval [95%CI] 0.32-0.59). The emesis control rate was 68% (95%CI= 0.55-0.80), and the overall control rate was 46% (95%CI= 0.32-0.59). Conclusion These findings suggest that omitting dexamethasone in highly emetogenic chemotherapy is feasible and results in nausea and vomiting control rates similar to those of the standard four-drug protocol. However, randomized controlled trials are required to confirm this hypothesis.http://www.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S1679-45082025000100225&lng=en&tlng=enDexamethasoneDrug therapyNauseaOlanzapineVomitingBreast neoplasmsAntineoplastic agentsDrug-related side effects and adverse reactions
spellingShingle Camilla Vieira de Rebouças
Rafaela de Brito Alves
Alayne Magalhães Trindade Domingues Yamada
Auro del Giglio
Felipe José Silva Melo Cruz
Omission of dexamethasone in prophylaxis for highly emetogenic chemotherapy in patients with breast cancer
Einstein (São Paulo)
Dexamethasone
Drug therapy
Nausea
Olanzapine
Vomiting
Breast neoplasms
Antineoplastic agents
Drug-related side effects and adverse reactions
title Omission of dexamethasone in prophylaxis for highly emetogenic chemotherapy in patients with breast cancer
title_full Omission of dexamethasone in prophylaxis for highly emetogenic chemotherapy in patients with breast cancer
title_fullStr Omission of dexamethasone in prophylaxis for highly emetogenic chemotherapy in patients with breast cancer
title_full_unstemmed Omission of dexamethasone in prophylaxis for highly emetogenic chemotherapy in patients with breast cancer
title_short Omission of dexamethasone in prophylaxis for highly emetogenic chemotherapy in patients with breast cancer
title_sort omission of dexamethasone in prophylaxis for highly emetogenic chemotherapy in patients with breast cancer
topic Dexamethasone
Drug therapy
Nausea
Olanzapine
Vomiting
Breast neoplasms
Antineoplastic agents
Drug-related side effects and adverse reactions
url http://www.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S1679-45082025000100225&lng=en&tlng=en
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