Cancer patients at high risk for chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting – prediction assessments/tools

ABSTRACT Introduction: Chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting (CINV) is associated with a significant deterioration in quality of life and is perceived by patients as a major adverse effects of the treatment. Areas covered: In order to minimize the effects of CINV on patients’ quality of life, practitioners should prescribe prophylactic antiemetics using the recommendations of the various international antiemetic guidelines. In addition, patients’ specific risk factor for CINV should be assessed to determine if additional interventions should be implemented for specific patients prior to the first course of chemotherapy. Expert commentary: If patients develop breakthrough, refractory, and/or anticipatory CINV despite the use of guideline directed antiemetics, additional antiemetics and/or non-pharmacologic interventions should be implemented. The purpose of the review is to outline an approach for the assessment and implementation of effective prophylactic measures to prevent CINV.