Aprepitant for nausea

A pilot study for the management of refractory nausea and vomiting in cancer patients by a palliative medicine service at a comprehensive cancer centre

Nausea and vomiting are experienced by 40–70% of advanced cancer patients, with 35% having those symptoms in the last six weeks of life. Aprepitant is a selective NK-1 receptor antagonist that blocks the emetogenic action of substance P and is approved for clinical use in Australia for treatment of nausea and vomiting in patients receiving highly or moderately emetogenic chemotherapy. This study explores the effectiveness of aprepitant in non-chemotherapy related nausea and vomiting in patients with cancer. 

This project aims to assess whether aprepitant is effective in treating nausea which has not responded to previous treatments and is not associated with chemotherapy administration. 

Sponsor 

  • Merck, Sharp and Dohme 

Principal investigator 

Associate Professor Odette Spruyt 

Palliative care consultant 

Contact details 

Associate Professor Odette Spruyt - Principal Investigator 

  • Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. 

Aprepitant for nausea project status 

  • Ongoing