Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
Pivot Concepts:   Target Concepts:
Query: UNIPROT:P46098 (5-HT3 receptor)
 2,290 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

This paper reviews the toxicity profile of gemcitabine, a novel anticancer drug. Gemcitabine has been administered using two different treatment schedules: once weekly or twice weekly for 3 weeks followed by a week of rest (one cycle). It was well tolerated and alopecia was not a problem. Toxicity was greater in the twice-weekly schedule. Comparing the once-weekly with the twice-weekly schedule, WHO grade 3 or 4 thrombocytopenia was reported in 4.7 and 25.6% of patients, respectively. Other hematological toxicity was minimal. Transient WHO grade 3 or 4 elevations of ALT and AST occurred in 9.2 and 7.2% of patients, respectively, in the once-weekly schedule. For the twice-weekly schedule the corresponding percentages were 12.2 and 13.8%. Symptomatic toxicity was greater in patients who received twice-weekly gemcitabine. Nausea and vomiting was mild and generally well controlled without 5HT3 antagonists. However, there was a greater incidence of nausea and vomiting on the twice-weekly schedule. Flu-like symptoms were documented in 19.8% of patients receiving once-weekly and 63.3% of patients receiving twice-weekly gemcitabine. Peripheral edema, not related to cardiac, hepatic or renal failure, was seen more often in patients on twice-weekly treatment. As the efficacy of gemcitabine in non-small cell lung cancer was equivalent when using both regimens, the better tolerated and more easily administered once-weekly schedule is recommended.
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PMID:Gemcitabine: once-weekly schedule active and better tolerated than twice-weekly schedule. 879 11

Effective antiemetic therapy is crucial for patients undergoing chemotherapy or radiotherapy for cancer. Severe nausea and vomiting associated with such cancer treatment can lead to anxiety, anorexia, dehydration, electrolyte disturbance and renal failure, and may interrupt cancer therapy, demoralise patients or even cause them to abandon treatment. In 1992, we welcomed the introduction of ondansetron, the first selective serotonin type 3- (5HT3-) receptor antagonist marketed in the UK, as an important advance in preventing chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting. Several selective 5HT3-receptor antagonists are now licensed. They are widely prescribed to patients receiving cancer treatment, but not always appropriately. Here we review their optimal use.
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PMID:5HT3-receptor antagonists as antiemetics in cancer. 1611 Oct 85