Progress in controlling emesis with cancer chemotherapy.

Marked progress in supportive care in cancer, and in control of chemotherapy-induced emesis in particular, has been accomplished over the past several years. Several effective antiemetic agents and regimens have been tested and are widely available. Emesis due to chemotherapy can now be completely controlled in the majority of patients.

Cancer chemotherapy in historical perspective.

Effective systemic cancer therapy has evolved during the past 50 years. Prior to that time a variety of treatments were attempted, many of which seemed to have had their origins in sorcery rather than science. The 1950s and 1960s produced an explosion of knowledge and many of the chemotherapeutic agents in use today were synthesized during that time frame.

New agents for controlling emesis with cancer chemotherapy.

Over the past decade, marked progress in support techniques has been made in patients with cancer. In addition to improvement in pain and infection control, the ability to control chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting has improved greatly. Studies have demonstrated that serotonin type 3 receptors play an important role in mediating this side-effect.

Breast Cancer Prevention Trial update.

In April 1992, the National Surgical Adjuvant Breast and Bowel Project and the National Cancer Institute launched the Breast Cancer Prevention Trial. This is the largest cancer prevention trial ever attempted. The Breast Cancer Prevention Trial will involve 16,000 high-risk women in the United States and Canada.

Methodology in anti-emetic trials.

Major progress in the ability to control chemotherapy-induced emesis has been made over the past 10 years. One of the several factors contributing to this improved control has been the development of accurate assessment methodology. The application of proper study methodology fostered the identification of active single agents and led to the formation of effective anti-emetic combinations.

New directions in non-small cell lung cancer.

A number of regimens are now available that can induce antitumor responses in many patients with non-small cell lung cancer. Surgery remains the treatment of choice in stages I and II. Combination regimens have been demonstrated to elicit higher response rates, as well as an improvement in survival, than single agents or treatment other than chemotherapy for patients with non-resectable tumors.