Impact of reducing day 1 dexamethasone dose in anthracycline-containing regimens on acute gastrointestinal symptoms associated with breast cancer treatment

The potential of steroid sparing from day 2 onward is reported in anthracycline-containing regimens for breast cancer treatment. We evaluated whether the reduction of dexamethasone (DEX) dose from 9.9 to 6.6 mg on day 1 is possible in anthracycline-containing treatments. Patients receiving anthracycline-containing regimens were divided into control (9.9 mg DEX on day 1) and reduced (6.6 mg DEX on day 1) groups, and retrospectively evaluated. The complete response (CR) rate and the incidence and severity of nausea, vomiting, anorexia, and fatigue were evaluated. The CR rate in the acute phase (day 1) was 63.1% and 38.1% in the control and reduced groups, respectively, with significant difference (P = 0.01) between the groups. However, no difference was found in the delayed phase (days 2–7). The incidence of anorexia and vomiting during treatment was not statistically different. Severity of nausea tended to, but not statistically, worsen while anorexia significantly worsened in the reduced group. Multivariate analysis suggested that patients < 55 years, with non- or less-alcohol drinking habit (< 5 days/week), and administered reduced-DEX dosage on day 1, have a higher risk of acute nausea development. Thus, reducing day 1 DEX dose in anthracycline-containing regimens is not suitable for acute nausea management.

Efficacy of Auricular Acupressure in Prevention and Treatment of Chemotherapy-Induced Nausea and Vomiting in Patients with Cancer: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Background. More than 40% of patients with cancer have reported that chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting (CINV) remained the most debilitating side effects of treatment even in the era of new antiemetics. Objective. The purpose of this review was to systematically evaluate the clinical effect of auricular acupressure (AA) in prevention and treatment of chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting. Methods. The following databases were searched: PubMed, Cochrane Library, EMBASE, the Web of Science, Chinese Biological Medicine (CBM), Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), Wanfang, and VIP (from database inception to April 2020). Eligible randomized controlled trials of auricular acupressure in treating CINV were collected, including crossover randomized design study. The meta-analysis was carried out by RevMan software (5.3). Results. Totally 19 RCTs with 1449 patients met the inclusion criteria. Compared with control groups, the relief efficiency of overall CINV was enhanced by AA combined with antiemetics (RR = 1.31, CI 1.22 to 1.41, p ≤ 0.001). Although the therapeutic effect on acute nausea and vomiting was not obvious, AA still played an important role in reducing delayed nausea and vomiting (delayed nausea frequency: RR = 0.68, CI −1.01 to −1.35, p ≤ 0.001; delayed vomiting frequency: RR = 0.91, CI −1.22 to −0.61, p ≤ 0.001). The likelihood of adverse reactions related to antiemetics was reduced by AA combined with antiemetics (RR = 0.62, CI 0.53 to 0.74, p ≤ 0.001). Statistically significant association was found between AA and incidence of constipation, diarrhea, and tiredness, while there was no statistically significant association between AA and abdominal distension or headache. Conclusion. Auricular acupressure supplementation benefited delayed chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting as well as constipation, diarrhea, and tiredness. AA alone or AA supplementation has little effect on acute nausea and acute vomiting. There is no conclusion on whether AA alone is superior to antiemetics in the management of delayed CINV. Further studies are needed to confirm the efficacy of auricular acupressure alone in delayed CINV and anticipatory CINV. The results of this review provided the basis for further research with more rigorous study designs, adequate sample sizes, and standardized implementation to confirm the efficacy of auricular acupressure.

MON-915 Acute Abdominal Pain and the Pheochromocytoma

Background: Pheochromocytomas are neuroendocrine tumors that release large amounts of metanephrines and catecholamines, resulting in a wide array of symptoms including hypertension, diaphoresis, and headaches. If left unrecognized they can lead to serious morbidity including ischemic or hemorrhagic CVA, encephalopathy, MI, Aortic Dissection, and renal injury. Clinical Case: A 62-year-old male began having difficulties with his blood pressure over the past year. He was first hospitalized for an acute ischemic CVA with hypertensive urgency. His blood pressure was generally controlled throughout the admission but he continued to have intermittent elevations. After transferring to an inpatient rehabilitation unit he had an episode of acute nausea, severe lower abdominal pain, and emesis following dinner. He was tachycardic and hypertensive up to 190/115. Acute abdominal imaging revealed constipation but no obstruction. His symptoms resolved, returning a few hours later with another episode of acute nausea, vomiting, and severe lower abdominal pain, with blood pressure 210/126 and tachycardia. IV Metoprolol, Hydralazine and pain medications did not significantly improve his blood pressure, he was subsequently started on a Nitroglycerin drip. Abdominal workup was unremarkable, he was stabilized and discharged back to rehabilitation on increased oral medications. He continued to have blood pressure spikes up to 200/124 with nausea, vomiting, and severe abdominal pain until a Clonidine patch was started, after which his blood pressure was better controlled. He was discharged home with continued outpatient therapies. A few weeks later he returned to the ER with nausea and severe abdominal pain, blood pressure at home was 254/185. On exam he was diaphoretic, tachycardic, and tachypneic. A CTA scan was obtained without signs of dissection. A Nitro drip with IV push Hydralazine were not effective at controlling his blood pressure, and so Lisinopril, Amlodipine, and a Clonidine patch were added. Over the next few days he had progressively fewer hypertensive elevations and his symptoms were only present during hypertensive episodes. An extensive workup for secondary hypertension was started. 24-hour plasma and urine Metanephrines were within normal limits. Urine Normetanephrine was elevated to 1266 ug/24h (Ref 88-444). Urine Norepinephrine was elevated to 124 ug/24h (Ref 15-80), Urine Dopamine was elevated to 578 ug/24h (Ref 65-400), and total Catecholamines were elevated to 133 ug/24h (Ref 15-100). Conclusion: This case illustrates the variance in presentations for Pheochromocytoma and the importance of maintaining a high index of suspicion for secondary causes in patients with intractable hypertension. While commonly reported symptoms include nausea and hypertension, the presentation of acute abdominal pain as the primary complaint is also an important feature of this disease.

Toxicities of chemoradiotherapy and radiotherapy in nasopharyngeal carcinoma: an updated meta-analysis

Objective We investigated the risk of acute and late toxicities of concurrent chemoradiotherapy (CCRT) and radiotherapy alone in patients with nasopharynx carcinoma (NPC). Methods In this meta-analysis, we searched the PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, and Web of Science databases for eligible randomized clinical trials (RCTs). In addition to the incidence of specific toxicities, risk ratios (RRs) or odd ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were obtained using fixed-effect or random-effects models. Results In total, 11 RCTs involving 2801 patients with NPC were included in this analysis. For grade ≥3 adverse events, patients who received CCRT treatment had a higher proportion of acute mucositis (39.9% vs. 30.5%, RR=1.30, 95%CI, 1.16–1.46) acute nausea and vomiting (RR=6.26, 95% CI: 2.01–19.45), and neutropenia (RR=30.86, 95% CI: 7.36 to 129.35). For late severe toxicities, CCRT treatment was significantly associated with higher incidence of hearing loss (116.56% vs. 411.43%, RR=1.461, 95%CI, 1.043–21.095). The incidence of acute nausea and vomiting was more frequent in patients receiving CCRT. Conclusion Compared with radiotherapy alone, CCRT increases the risk of severe acute toxicities (mucositis, nausea/vomiting, and neutropenia) and severe late toxicity (hearing loss) in patients with NPC. However, larger studies are needed to confirm this finding.