Risks in Antiemesis Using Dexamethasone
Authors: May M. Alhashimi, Steven H. Krasnow, Anita Johnston-Early, Marc L. Citron, Martin H. Cohen
Journal: Annals of Internal Medicine (1984)

Letters and Corrections1 August 1984Risks in Antiemesis Using DexamethasoneMAY M. ALHASHIMI, M.D., STEVEN H. KRASNOW, M.D., ANITA JOHNSTON-EARLY, R.N., MARC L. CITRON, M.D., MARTIN H. COHEN, M.D.MAY M. ALHASHIMI, M.D.Search for more papers by this author, STEVEN H. KRASNOW, M.D.Search for more papers by this author, ANITA JOHNSTON-EARLY, R.N.Search for more papers by this author, MARC L. CITRON, M.D.Search for more papers by this author, MARTIN H. COHEN, M.D.Search for more papers by this authorAuthor, Article, and Disclosure Informationhttps://doi.org/10.7326/0003-4819-101-2-281_1 SectionsAboutPDF ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload CitationsTrack CitationsPermissions ShareFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditEmail ExcerptTo the editor: Cassileth and colleagues (1) have shown that high-dose dexamethasone therapy alleviates cancer therapy-induced emesis while producing less toxicity than other commonly used antiemetics. Before dexamethasone becomes the antiemetic of choice for cancer therapy, however, its effect on chemotherapy response rates, response durations, and survival must be determined.Several clinical and experimental studies have indicated that high-dose or prolonged corticosteroid treatment adversely affects chemotherapy efficacy. In one study, patients with metastatic lung cancer were randomly assigned to receive intermittent high-dose cyclophosphamide with or without prednisolone, 100 mg/m2orally for 2 days. The response rate was 57% for cyclophosphamide...References1. CASSILETH P, LUSK E, TORRI S, and GERSON S. Antiemetic efficacy of high-dose dexamethasone in induction therapy in acute nonlymphocytic leukemia. Ann Intern Med. 1984;100:701-2. LinkGoogle Scholar2. THATCHER N, WAGSTAFF J, WILKINSON P, PALMER M, and CROWTHER D. Intermittent high-dose cycloposphamine with and without prednisolone: a study of the relationship between toxicity, response and survival in metastatic lung cancer. Cancer. 1982;50:1051-6. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar3. WOLF J, SPEAR P, YESNER R, and PATNO M. Nitrogen mustard and steroid hormones in the treatment of inoperable bronchogenic carcinoma. Am J Med. 1960;29:1008-16. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar4. SHEPHERD R and HARRAP K. Modulation of the toxicity and antitumor activity of alkylating drugs by steroids. Br J Cancer. 1982;45:413-20. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar5. HAYAKAWA T, KANAI N, and YAMADA K. Effect of steroid hormone activation of endoxan (cyclophosphamide). Biochem Pharmacol. 1969; 18:12935. Google Scholar1. CASSILETH P, LUSK E, TORRI S, and GERSON S. Antiemetic efficacy of high-dose dexamethasone in induction therapy in acute nonlymphocytic leukemia. Ann Intern Med. 1984;100:701-2. LinkGoogle Scholar2. CASSILETH P, LUSK E, TORRI S, DINUBILE N, and GERSON S. Antiemetic efficacy of dexamethasone therapy in patients receiving cancer chemotherapy. Arch Intern Med. 1983;143:1347-9. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar3. ESTEY E, KEATING M, MCCREDIE K, BODEY G, and FRIEREICH E. Causes of initial remission induction failure in acute myelogenous leukemia. Blood. 1982;60:309-15. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar4. FOON K and GALE R. Controversies in the therapy of acute myelogenous leukemia. Am J Med. 1982;72:963-79. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar This content is PDF only. To continue reading please click on the PDF icon. Author, Article, and Disclosure InformationAuthors: MAY M. ALHASHIMI, M.D.; STEVEN H. KRASNOW, M.D.; ANITA JOHNSTON-EARLY, R.N.; MARC L. CITRON, M.D.; MARTIN H. COHEN, M.D. PreviousarticleNextarticle Advertisement FiguresReferencesRelatedDetails Metrics Cited byDexamethasone's New Use in Cancer Treatment 1 August 1984Volume 101, Issue 2Page: 281-281KeywordsCancer chemotherapyChemotherapyCyclophosphamideLung and intrathoracic tumorsToxicity ePublished: 1 December 2008 Issue Published: 1 August 1984 PDF downloadLoading ...