The neurokinin₁ receptor antagonist aprepitant as an antiemetic for moderately emetogenic chemotherapy

Abstract

The neurokinin-1 (NK₁) receptor antagonist aprepitant has become part of standard antiemetic therapy for high-dose cisplatin. Recent results indicate that chemotherapy for breast cancer that contains an anthracycline plus cyclophosphamide is more emetogenic than has been previously realised. One large randomised trial demonstrated that aprepitant substantially reduces the risk of vomiting or retching when added to a corticosteroid and a 5-hydroxytryptamine 3 (HT₃) receptor antagonist. The adverse effects of standard antiemetics and chemotherapy do not appear to be increased by the addition of this novel antiemetic agent. Aprepitant should now also be considered to be part of prophylactic antiemetic therapy for women who receive chemotherapy that contains an anthracycline and cyclophosphamide. The role of NK₁ receptor antagonists in preventing emesis due to other cytotoxic agents that are deemed to be moderately emetogenic is still unclear.

Keywords::

• antiemetics
• aprepitant
• breast neoplasms
• dexamethasone
• nausea
• ondansetron
• randomised
• vomiting