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Study Purpose

To assess the effect of thalidomide on delayed chemotherapy-induced vomiting

Intervention Characteristics/Basic Study Process

Patients were randomly allocated to treatment with thalidomide 25 mg four times per day and 50 mg at night beginning the day before chemotherapy. Both the intervention and treatment groups were given azasetron 10 mg IV 30 minutes before chemotherapy administration. Patients had received at least one cycle of chemotherapy prior to study inclusion.

Sample Characteristics

N = 78
MEAN AGE = 50.3 years
AGE RANGE = 26–75
MALES: 57.69%, FEMALES: 42.31%
CURRENT TREATMENT: Chemotherapy
KEY DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: Patients were receiving platinum-based chemotherapy. Lung, gastric, and ovarian cancers
OTHER KEY SAMPLE CHARACTERISTICS: Excluded patients with vomiting related to a brain tumor, gastrointestinal obstruction, etc.

Setting

SITE: Single site
SETTING TYPE: Not specified
LOCATION: Pakistan

Phase of Care and Clinical Applications

PHASE OF CARE: Active antitumor treatment

Study Design

Randomized, controlled trial

Measurement Instruments/Methods

Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (CTCAE), version 4 (grade 1 considered completely controlled)
World Health Organization (WHO) adverse reaction grading of chemotherapy side effects

Results

Delayed vomiting was fully or partly controlled in 88% of the treatment group and in 66% of the control group (p = 0.023).

Conclusions

Thalidomide might be helpful to control chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting.

Limitations

Small sample (< 100)
Risk of bias (no blinding)
Measurement/methods not well described
Timing of data collection not described
Patients did not receive antiemetics according to established guidelines, and control rates were below those reported with the use of full antiemetic prophylaxis as described in guidelines.

Nursing Implications

Thalidomide might be useful for the control of chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting; however, additional well designed research is needed to determine the role of thalidomide as an option or adjunct to reduce nausea and vomiting.