Ondansetron and chemotherapy induced emesis: 3rd International Congress on Neo-adjuvant Chemotherapy

During the 3rd International Congress on Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy (Paris 1991) a complete symposium was devoted to chemically induced nausea and vomiting and to the value of Ondansetron. This book comprises original articles dealing with the different topics discussed during this session. It provides fuller information on current practice in anti-emetic treatment during anti-cancerous chemotherapy and sets out the position of a new and important drug, ondansetron, in this pathology. Different international clinical studies made with ondansetron in various types of patients are analysed: specific studies in hematology or in pulmonary disease, evaluation against benzamide-corticoid as a combined reference standard, or further the additive effect of a corticoid combined with ondansetron. One article is devoted to the use of the drug in children. Finally, recent programmes dealing with both the intravenous and the oral use of ondansetron are assessed. The last article deals with the economic evaluation of the use of ondansetron. Thus the reader will findhere a recent and uo-to-date review of the results and possible uses of ondansetron, now the premier member of the class of 5 HT 3 antagonists, in chemically induced nausea and vomiting.