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Updated: Oct 2, 2026

Evaluating the Effectiveness of Cancer Drug Sensitization In Vitro and In Vivo
Published on: February 6, 2015
Dose-ranging evaluation of the serotonin antagonist dolasetron mesylate in patients receiving high-dose cisplatin
M G Kris1, S M Grunberg, R J Gralla
1Thoracic Oncology Service, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY 10021.
Purpose:
This dose-ranging trial of intravenous dolasetron mesylate (MDL73,147EF) was performed to determine its adverse and antiemetic effects in patients receiving cisplatin at doses > or = 100 mg/m2.
Patients And Methods:
Eighty-nine patients treated with initial cisplatin received a single intravenous dose of dolasetron mesylate administered over 20 minutes beginning 30 minutes before chemotherapy. The following four dose levels were studied: 1.8, 2.4, 3.0, and 5.0 mg/kg. Emesis and adverse effects were measured for 24 hours after cisplatin.
Results:
All adverse effects were mild and transient including loose stools, headache, serum AST/ALT elevations, and asymptomatic prolongation of ECG intervals. Among the dose levels, no-emesis rates from 24% to 52% were observed, and the percentage of patients having zero, one, or two emetic episodes ranged from 48% to 82%. Complete control of vomiting increased as the dose was escalated to 2.4 mg/kg, but did not improve further with higher doses.
Conclusion:
Dolasetron mesylate can be administered safely at doses up to 5.0 mg/kg, with comparable complete protection rates and increased adverse effects at doses greater than 2.4 mg/kg. Antiemetic activity was seen after cisplatin. Trials comparing single infusions of dolasetron mesylate and ondansetron are under way.
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