Nausea and Vomiting in Children Receiving Chemotherapeautic Monotherapy

The Hospital for Sick Children88 enrolled

Overview

Chemotherapy induced nausea is a common side effect for children undergoing chemotherapy. Furthermore, chemotherapy-induced vomiting is a major factor limiting quality of life during treatment reported by paediatric cancer survivors. Complete prevention of both nausea and vomiting is the goal of anti-vomiting and nausea medications. It is important to understand whether or not certain chemotherapeutic treatments are more or less likely to cause these symptoms. Acute leukemia is the most common cancer diagnosed in children. Intrathecal methotrexate is an important part of chemotherapy for the prevention and treatment of central nervous system leukemia over the 2.5 to 3.5 years of the treatment program for leukemia. The likelihood that intrathecal methotrexate administered as monotherapy will cause nausea and vomiting has not yet been described in children. Knowledge of the likelihood that intrathecal methotrexate will cause nausea and vomiting will therefore be important to optimize treatment for these side-effects of chemotherapy. The primary aim of this prospective study is to evaluate the potential of intrathecal methotrexate to cause nausea and vomiting in paediatric cancer patients.

Study Type

OBSERVATIONAL

Enrollment

Conditions

Acute Leukemia

Eligibility

Sex: ALLMin age: 4 YearsMax age: 18 Years

Medical Language ↔ Plain English

Inclusion Criteria: * 4 years old to 18 years of age (age range in which the PeNAT has been validated) \[18\] * English speaking (PeNAT has been validated only in English) * Cognitive ability of the child believed to be at least at a 4 year old level according to parent or health care professional * Patients are past their first cycle of maintenance therapy to avoid interactions with the intensive chemotherapy phase. Exclusion Criteria: * Receiving chemotherapy other than dictated by protocol for maintenance therapy within 24 hours prior to or 24 hours following receipt of intrathecal methotrexate

Outcomes

Primary Outcomes

Acute Chemotherapy-Induced Nausea and Vomiting

To describe the prevalence of acute phase CINV in these patients. Acute CINV is defined as nausea, vomiting or retching occurring within the first 24 hours following chemotherapy.

Time frame: Over 24 hours after receiving intrathecal methotrexate on day 1

Secondary Outcomes

Anticipatory Chemotherapy-Induced Nausea and Vomiting

To describe the prevalence of anticipatory nausea and vomiting in these patients. Anticipatorty nausea and vomiting begins prior to the administration of chemotherapy in patients who have previously received chemotherapy.

Time frame: Baseline

Delayed Chemotherapy-Induced Nausea and Vomiting

To describe the prevalence of delayed phase CINV in these patients. Delayed CINV develops after the initial 24 hours and might last up to 7 days.

Time frame: Over 168 hours (7 days) after receiving first treatment of intrathecal methotrexate