Chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting (CINV) in 190 colorectal cancer patients: a prospective registration study by the CINV study group of Japan

ABSTRACT

Objectives: Chemotherapy is an indispensable therapeutic approach for colorectal cancer both in the adjuvant and metastatic setting. Although chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting (CINV) is one of the most crucial adverse events, many aspects of CINV in patients with colorectal cancer remain unclear.

Methods: This multicenter, prospective, observational study analyzed the data of 190 colorectal cancer patients scheduled for moderately emetogenic chemotherapy (MEC). The patients recorded the incidence of CINV and severity of nausea by visual analogue scales daily for 7 days after receiving chemotherapy.

Results: All 190 patients received MEC and 99% of patients received antiemetic therapy in compliance with guidelines. Acute CINV was well controlled. 13 (6.8%) patients suffered from acute nausea and 4 (2.1%) experienced acute vomiting, whereas the prevalence of delayed CINV was relatively high. Delayed nausea occurred in 71 (37.4%) patients and delayed vomiting in 24 (12.6%). History of motion sickness was a significant independent risk factor for delayed nausea (Odd ratio 3.89, 95% confidence interval 1.49–10.19, p = 0.0056).

Conclusions: The compliance with CINV guidelines in colorectal cancer chemotherapy was quite high and led to good control of chemotherapy-induced vomiting in Japan. However, the incidence of delayed nausea remained high in patients receiving MEC.

KEYWORDS:

• CINV
• colorectal cancer
• antiemetic guidelines
• antiemetic agents
• oxaliplatin based regimen

Acknowledgments

We thank all of the patients and investigators who participated in this study. We appreciate the support of Ms. Etsuko Kumakawa, Yukimi Itoh, Noriko Ikoma, Noriko Gushima and Kazuko Nakata for registration and analysis of the collected data.　We are grateful to Kazuo Tamura and Toshiaki Saeki for their helpful advice as members of the Scientific Committee, and Masaki Kitajima, Yoshihiko Maehara and Koichi Hirata as members of the Executive Council.

Declaration of interest

Y Tsuji has received honoraria from Merck Serono, Eli Lilly Japan, Chugai, Taiho, Ono, Takeda, Daiichi Sankyo, Kyowa Kirin, Yakult Honsha, Nippon Kayaku and Medicon, outside the submitted work. H Baba has received honoraria and research funding from Ono. K Takeda has received grants and honoraria from Chugai, Eisai, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Eli Lilly Japan, Ono, Kyowa Kirin and Boehringer Ingelheim; received grants from Taiho; and honoraria from Daiichi Sankyo and Novartis. E Oki has received honoraria from Taiho, Yakult Honsha, Merck Serono, Takeda, Bayer Japan, Eli Lilly Japan and Chugai; and has a consultant or advisory relationship with Taiho, Takeda and Chugai. K Yoshida has received honoraria from Chugai, Taiho Ltd., Takeda, Eli Lilly, Daiichi Sankyo, Ono, Merck Serono, Novartis Pharma, Sanofi and research funding from Ajinomoto, Takeda, Chugai, Daiichi Sankyo, Taiho, Ono, Yakult Honsha outside the submitted work. Y Kakeji has received honoraria from Chugai and Taiho. K Akiba has received honoraria from Taiho. The authors have no other relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript apart from those disclosed.