Oral cisapride for the control of delayed vomiting following high-dose cisplatin

Although combination antiemetics prevent vomiting during the initial 24 h after high-dose (> or =100 mg/m2) cisplatin, many patients experience delayed emesis 24-120 h afterwards despite receiving prophylactic dexamethasone and metoclopramide during this time. Cisapride is a prokinetic agent, which stimulates propulsive motility throughout the gastrointestinal tract without causing extrapyramidal effects. In this phase II trial, we tested the ability of cisapride to prevent delayed emesis following cisplatin. Twenty patients receiving initial cisplatin >100 mg/m2 were entered. All patients received intravenous dexamethasone with either metoclopramide or ondansetron to prevent acute emesis 0-24 h after receiving cisplatin. Patients who had experienced two or fewer acute vomiting episodes then received cisapride 20 mg orally four times daily for 4 days (24-120 h after cisplatin). Cisapride prevented delayed emesis in 2 patients (10%) during the entire 4-day period (95% confidence interval, 1-32%). Abdominal cramping and pain occurred in 35%. At the dose and schedule tested, oral cisapride prevented delayed emesis in only 10% of patients receiving cisplatin >100 mg/m2 and caused abdominal cramping in 35%. Since in prior trials among similar patients, placebo prevented delayed emesis in 11%, further study of cisapride and dose escalation for this indication are not recommended.