Efficacy and safety of olanzapine combined with aprepitant, palonosetron, and dexamethasone for preventing nausea and vomiting induced by cisplatin-based chemotherapy in gynecological cancer: KCOG-G1301 phase II trial.

PURPOSE: Olanzapine is effective in chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting (CINV). In patients receiving highly emetogenic chemotherapy (HEC), its efficacy was reported as rescue therapy for breakthrough emesis refractory to triplet therapy (palonosetron, aprepitant, and dexamethasone). However, its preventive effects with triplet therapy for CINV are unknown. This study aimed to investigate efficacy and safety of preventive use of olanzapine with triplet therapy for CINV of HEC. METHODS: This study is a prospective multicenter study conducted by Kansai Clinical Oncology Group. Forty chemo-naïve gynecological cancer patients receiving HEC with cisplatin (≥50 mg/m(2)) were enrolled. Oral olanzapine (5 mg) was administered with triplet therapy a day prior to cisplatin administration and on days 1-5. The primary endpoint was complete response (no vomiting and no rescue) rate for the overall phase (0-120 h post-chemotherapy). Secondary endpoints were complete response rate for acute phase (0-24 h post-chemotherapy) and delayed phase (24-120 h post-chemotherapy) and complete control (no vomiting, no rescue, and no significant nausea) rate and total control (no vomiting, no rescue, and no nausea) rate for each phase. These endpoints were evaluated during the first cycle of chemotherapy. RESULTS: Complete response rates for acute, delayed, and overall phases were 97.5, 95.0, and 92.5 %, respectively. Complete control rates were 92.5, 87.5, and 82.5 %, respectively. Total control rates were 87.5, 67.5, and 67.5 %, respectively. There were no grade 3 or 4 adverse events. CONCLUSIONS: Preventive use of olanzapine combined with triplet therapy gives better results than those from previously reported studies of triplet therapy.

[A Case of Bilateral Pneumothorax after Chemotherapy for Uterine Leiomyosarcoma with Multiple Lung Metastases].

We encountered a case of uterine leiomyosarcoma with multiple lung metastases. The patient was a 52-year-old woman who underwent total abdominal hysterectomy and bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy followed by chemotherapy with gemcitabine and docetaxel. After 1 cycle of chemotherapy, the lung metastasis was reduced, but at the same time, she developed bilateral pneumothorax. Chemical pleurodesis using talc was performed. The lungs were expanded and stabilized in 7 days. After 5 cycles of chemotherapy were administered, no recurrence of pneumothorax and adverse effects were observed.

[A Case of Pneumocystis Pneumonia during Chemotherapy for Recurrent Ovarian Cancer].

A 53-year-old patient with recurrent ovarian clear cell adenocarcinoma developed fever (39°C) and cough on day 28 of liposomal doxorubicin chemotherapy, the 4th cycle of the 4th regimen since initial treatment. Drug-induced interstitial pneumonia was suspected from a chest CT image showing diffuse ground-glass opacities; however, we deduced pneumocystis pneumonia from the elevated serum beta-D-glucan levels. After effective treatment with sulfamethoxazole and amphotericin B, the patient's symptoms and radiological findings improved. Pneumocystis pneumonia is an opportunistic infection that poses a risk not only for patients undergoing aggressive immunosuppressive therapy, those infected with HIV, and those with transplants, but also for patients undergoing chemotherapy. When pneumonia is diagnosed during chemotherapy, it is essential to consider the possibility of pneumocystis pneumonia.