The antiemetic efficacy of thiethylperazine and methylprednisolone versus thiethylperazine and placebo in breast cancer patients treated with adjuvant chemotherapy (fluorouracil, doxorubicin and cyclophosphamide). A randomized, double-blind, cross-over trial

Forty-six women with breast cancer treated with adjuvant FAC (fluorouracil, doxorubicin and cyclophosphamide) entered a multicenter, randomized, double-blind, cross-over trial in which thiethylperazine (T) (6.5 mg p.o every 8 h x 3 days) plus methylprednisolone (MP) (250 mg i.v. x 2 doses) was compared with thiethylperazine plus placebo. Forty-four patients were evaluable for efficacy. T + MP was significantly better in reducing vomiting (p less than 0.01) and nausea (p less than 0.02). The complete protection rate against vomiting was 36% for T + MP compared to 18% for T + placebo, and the percentage of nausea grades 0 + 1 (none or slight) was 59% and 27% respectively. The patient preference after cross-over was strikingly in favor of T + MP (70% versus 13%) (p less than 0.001). The most important side-effects of T + MP were facial flushing (22%) and euphoria (27%). Other side-effects, such as dryness of the mouth and sedation, were common after both treatments. In conclusion, the study suggested that T + MP is superior to T alone in protecting from nausea and vomiting induced by FAC.