Effect of dexamethasone on vascular pain caused by the administration of fosaprepitant dimeglumine and epirubicin hydrochloride in patients with primary breast cancer

Abstract Epirubicin hydrochloride injection is indicated as a therapy for patients with primary breast cancer. This drug has been reclassified as a drug with high emetic potential according to the American Society of Clinical Oncology Guidelines for Antiemetics in Oncology. Therefore, patients who receive this agent should also receive fosaprepitant dimeglumine, an anti-emetic agent. However, it has been reported that fosaprepitant induces vascular pain when used in anthracycline-based regimens administered via the peripheral veins. In order to relieve the fosaprepitant and epirubicin-induced vascular pain associated with vasculitis, dexamethasone was administered at the onset of vascular pain. There is a possibility that the fosaprepitant and epirubicin-induced pain may improve owing to the administration of dexamethasone; however, further trials are required to confirm the effect of this method.