There currently is no pharmacologic approach to the problem of anticipatory nausea and vomiting (ANV). Lorazepam (Ativan, Wyeth Laboratories, Philadelphia) is an interesting candidate drug if it could block the recall of the unpleasant events associated with chemotherapy, especially if it also has antiemetic properties. Since ANV is a conditioned (learned) response, it may well depend on a memory imprint of the stimulus. This pilot study was designed to use intravenous lorazepam given before and after cisplatin infusion in 32 patients, and to make detailed measurements of nausea, vomiting, recent memory, anxiety, and sedation as well as toxicity. Satisfactory responses occurred in about 70%, as rated separately both by investigator and patient. Forty-six percent did not even recall receiving chemotherapy, regardless of whether or not they vomited; 80% had no significant anxiety after chemotherapy. Adverse reactions included some cases of perceptual disturbance, urinary incontinence, diarrhea, hypotension, and one case of severe transient amnesia. No long-term adverse effects were noted.

Thirty five patients were enrolled into a Phase I‐II study of oral levonantradol being tested as an antiemetic for chemotherapy patients who were refractory to the aggressive use of standard antiemetic agents. Sixty‐nine total courses were given. Dysphoric reactions (fear, anxiety, hallucinations) were the most serious side effects, and were most prevalent at the highest dose tested (2.0 mg q4h). Somnolence, a “high” feeling, hypotension were also noted. Antiemetic responses were seen at 0.5, 1.0, 1.5 and 2.0 mg dose levels: the two intermediate doses gave responses comparable to those previously reported for oral THC. It is suggested that a combination of oral and parenteral levonantradol may prove to be a very effective program to relieve the otherwise disabling problems of persistent nausea and vomiting.

Research in animal and human cell cultures has shown that some chemotherapeutic agents, cisplatin in particular, have cytotoxicity that is significantly potentiated at elevated temperatures. Concurrent administration of systemic cisplatin and local hyperthermia in human patients has not been previously reported. A phase I/II study was undertaken to assess the systemic and local toxicities and activity of concurrently administered local hyperthermia and systemic cisplatin in human tumours. Nine patients with histologically proven malignant tumours have been treated from March 1985 to July 1987. Their histologies were: breast, four; SCC of head and neck, two; SCC of skin, one; malignant melanoma, one; synovial cell sarcoma, one. Once-weekly hyperthermia was administered for 60 min by external microwave devices in an attempt to achieve minimum intratumoral temperatures of 42 degrees C. Plastic catheters were placed intratumorally under CT guidance for thermometry purposes. Cisplatin 40-60 mg/m2 was given over 60 min when steady-state heating was achieved. A total of 44 treatments are available for analysis. All nine patients had minimum intratumoral temperatures below the desired goal of 42 degrees C, and only two patients achieved average intratumoral temperatures of 42 degrees C or greater. Two of the responding patients sustained significant thermal injury consisting of blistering and necrosis. Three patients required transfusion and delay of weekly treatment because of anaemia and leukopenia. Four patients had partial response (PR) and one patient had minor response (MR) within the heated treatment volume. Three of these five patients experienced significant subjective palliation. This combination of treatment modalities can be delivered safely.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

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