# Efficacy of 5-hydroxytryptamine 3 receptor antagonists versus metoclopramide for preventing nausea and vomiting during azacitidine chemotherapy in patients with myelodysplastic syndromes or acute leukemia: a retrospective observational study

## TL;DR

This study found that 5-HT3 receptor antagonists are more effective than metoclopramide in preventing nausea and vomiting during azacitidine chemotherapy in patients with blood cancers.

## Contribution

A novel comparison of 5-HT3 receptor antagonists and metoclopramide for nausea prevention in azacitidine-treated patients.

## Key findings

- 5-HT3RAs showed significantly higher total, complete control, and complete response rates compared to metoclopramide.
- The time until first emetic episode or rescue medication was significantly longer with 5-HT3RAs.
- 5-HT3RAs appear more effective than metoclopramide for preventing chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting.

## Abstract

5-Hydroxytryptamine 3 receptor antagonists (5-HT3RAs) and dexamethasone are recommended to prevent azacitidine-induced nausea and vomiting. In clinical practice, 5-HT3RAs or metoclopramide is often used without dexamethasone. In this study, we aimed to determine whether 5-HT3RAs or metoclopramide is more effective for suppressing nausea and vomiting during azacitidine-based chemotherapy.

This study was a single-center retrospective observational study. Patients with myeloid malignancies receiving azacitidine-based regimens were treated with a 5-HT3RA (ramosetron or granisetron, n = 32) or metoclopramide (n = 18) for preventing nausea and vomiting. The occurrence of nausea and vomiting was assessed using total control (TC), complete control (CC), and complete response (CR) rates (chi-squared test), and the time to the first emetic episode or rescue medication (Cox proportional hazard regression analysis).

The 5-HT3RA group had significantly higher rates of TC, CC, and CR than the metoclopramide group (84% vs. 22%, 91% vs. 33%, and 91% vs. 33%, respectively). The time until the first emetic episode or rescue medication was also significantly longer in the 5-HT3RA group than in the metoclopramide group (p < 0.001).

5-HT3RAs may prevent azacitidine-induced nausea and vomiting more effectively than metoclopramide.

Retrospectively registered.