Related Experiment Video
Updated: Mar 25, 2026
05:56
Acupoint Application Combined with Acupressure as an Adjunctive Therapy for Chemotherapy-Induced Nausea and Vomiting
Published on: June 21, 2024
2.4K
Smell and Taste Disorders Resulting from Cancer and Chemotherapy
Jennifer Cohen1, Claire E Wakefield, David G Laing
1Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, Sydney Children's Hospital, High Street, Randwick NSW 2031, Australia. jennifer.cohen@sesiahs.health.nsw.gov.au.
Current Pharmaceutical Design
|February 17, 2016
Summary
Cancer treatments often cause taste and smell changes, impacting food intake and nutrition. Effective interventions are lacking, highlighting the need for standardized assessment and patient counseling regarding these sensory dysfunctions.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Sensory Science
- Nutritional Science
Background:
- Malnutrition is prevalent in cancer patients undergoing treatment.
- Patients frequently report altered taste and smell, affecting food intake.
- These sensory changes can persist post-treatment, impacting quality of life.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review current knowledge on taste and smell dysfunction in cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy.
- To identify gaps in understanding and assessment methodologies.
- To provide recommendations for future research and clinical practice.
Main Methods:
- Literature review focusing on chemotherapy patients.
- Analysis of self-reported taste and smell alterations.
- Examination of evidence for objective taste sensitivity changes.
Main Results:
- Self-reported taste and smell alterations affect over 86% of cancer patients.
- Some evidence suggests decreased taste sensitivity in cancer patients.
- Current interventions for managing these dysfunctions are ineffective.
Conclusions:
- Taste and smell dysfunction significantly impacts appetite, oral intake, and nutritional status in cancer patients.
- Standardized assessment methods are crucial for future research.
- Counseling patients on potential sensory changes and their effects is recommended.
Related Concept Videos
01:20Taste Buds and Receptors
5.9K
Gustation, or the sense of taste, is intrinsically linked to the anatomical structures located on the tongue. This organ's surface, along with the entirety of the oral cavity, is adorned with stratified squamous epithelium. Evident on the tongue are elevated structures known as papillae (singular = papilla), which house the mechanisms for the transduction of gustatory stimuli. Four distinct types of papillae exist, each identified by their unique morphological attributes: the circumvallate,...
5.9K
01:27Chemotherapy-Induced Nausea and Vomiting: 5-HT3 Receptor Antagonists
794
5-HT3 receptor antagonists, such as dolasetron, granisetron (Kytril), ondansetron (Zofran), and palonosetron (Axoli), are crucial in managing chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting (CINV) and postoperative nausea. These drugs selectively block 5-HT3 receptors in the visceral vagal and spinal afferent nerves, chemoreceptor trigger zone, and the vomiting center. They have a rapid onset of action and can be given as a single dose before chemotherapy. Ondansetron and granisetron, in particular,...
794
01:28Chemotherapy-Induced Nausea and Vomiting: Neurokinin-1 Receptor Antagonists
740
Neurokinin 1 (NK1) receptors are distributed across the GI tract, vagal afferents, and key CNS regions including the central vomiting center and chemoreceptor trigger zone (CTZ) Chemotherapy agents stimulate enterochromaffin cells in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract to release large amounts of substance P (SP). SP is a neuropeptide released by specific sensory nerves in response to many different stressors, including those in the GI mucosa affected by chemotherapy. SP binds and activates...
740
01:29Chemotherapy-Induced Nausea and Vomiting: Dopamine Receptor Antagonists
1.0K
Dopamine receptor antagonists, also known as antipsychotic agents, are critical in managing chemotherapy-induced vomiting. These antiemetic agents block dopamine receptors in the chemoreceptor trigger zone (CTZ), inhibiting signal transmission to the vomiting center. Antipsychotic agents encompass phenothiazines (PTZ), butyrophenones, benzamides, and thienobenzodiazepines (Zyprexa), which are utilized for their antiemetic and sedative properties.
Phenothiazines, such as prochlorperazine...
Phenothiazines, such as prochlorperazine...
1.0K
01:21Chemotherapy-Induced Nausea and Vomiting: Cannabinoids
927
Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) is a phytocannabinoid that primarily interacts with the CB1 receptor, a type of G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) predominantly in and around the chemoreceptor trigger zone (CTZ) and emetic center. THC also blocks the serotonin receptor activity in the dorsal vagal complex (DVC) by inhibiting serotonin release. THC exerts its anti-emetic effects through these interactions, which are beneficial for patients undergoing chemotherapy.
Two synthetic agonists of THC,...
Two synthetic agonists of THC,...
927
01:24The Physiology of Taste
8.2K
The perception of a salty flavor is facilitated by sodium ions within the oral salivary fluid. Upon consumption of a salty substance, salt crystals disassemble, leading to the liberation of its constituents—Na+ and Cl- ions. These ions subsequently dissolve into the salivary fluid present in the oral cavity. The external environment of the gustatory cells experiences an elevation in Na+ concentration, thereby establishing a potent concentration gradient. This gradient propels the...
8.2K