Quan Li, Julianna V.F. Roddy and Michael Berger

Department of Pharmacy, the Arthur G. James Cancer Hospital and Richard J. Solove Research Institute, the Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, USA.

Abstract

Chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting (CINV) is among the most unpleasant and stressful aspects of chemotherapy. Poorly controlled nausea and vomiting may have negative impacts on clinical treatment and quality of life. Clinical trials aimed at the prevention of CINV have focused on both acute and delayed phases of CINV. The use of first generation serotonin subtype 3 serotonin (5-HT3) receptor antagonists has significantly improved symptom control in acute CINV. However, they are less effective in controlling delayed CINV. Palonosetron is a second generation 5-HT3 receptor antagonist with high potency, selectivity, prolonged half-life, and a unique allosteric binding mechanism. Previous trials which compared palonosetron to other first generation 5-HT3 antagonists had used the prevention of delayed CINV as a secondary end point. Recent data have demonstrated palonosetron, when used with a corticosteroid, was superior to granisetron in the prevention of delayed CINV as a primary end point. This article will review recently published literature focusing on mechanism of action, metabolism, pharmacokinetics, clinical efficacy, and safety of palonosetron in the treatment of CINV, specifically delayed CINV.