Emetogenic potential of chemotherapy agents (modified from Hesketh et al3)
| Emetic level* | Frequency of emesis† | Agent |
|---|---|---|
| *Emetic levels 3–5 constitute high emetogenicity, emetic level 2 constitutes moderate emetogenicity, and emetic level 1 constitutes low emetogenicity. | ||
| †Proportion of patients experiencing emesis in the absence of antiemetic prophylaxis. | ||
| 5 | >90% | Carmustine >250 mg/m2 |
| Cisplatin ⩾50 mg/m2 | ||
| Cyclophosphamide >1.5 g/m2 | ||
| Dacarbazine ⩾500 mg/m2 | ||
| Lomustine >60 mg/m2 | ||
| Mechlorethamine | ||
| Streptozocin | ||
| 4 | 60–90% | Carboplatin |
| Carmustine ⩽250 mg/m2 | ||
| Cisplatin <50 mg/m2 | ||
| Cyclophosphamide 0.75–1.5 g/m2 | ||
| Cytarabine ⩾1 g/m2 | ||
| Dacarbazine <500 mg/m2 | ||
| Dactinomycin >1.5 mg/m2 | ||
| Doxorubicin >60 mg/m2 | ||
| Methotrexate >1000 mg/m2 | ||
| Mitoxantrone >15 mg/m2 | ||
| Procarbazine | ||
| 3 | 30–60% | Cyclophosphamide <0.75 g/m2 |
| Dactinomycin ⩽1.5 mg/m2 | ||
| Daunorubicin | ||
| Doxorubicin 20–60 mg/m2 | ||
| Epirubicin ⩽90 mg/m2 | ||
| Hexamethylmelamine | ||
| Idarubicin | ||
| Ifosfamide | ||
| Methotrexate 250–1000 mg/m2 | ||
| Mitoxantrone ⩽15 mg/m2 | ||
| 2 | 10–30% | Asparaginase |
| Cytarabine <1 g/m2 | ||
| Doxorubicin <20 mg/m2 | ||
| Docetaxel | ||
| Etoposide | ||
| Fluorouracil <1 g/m2 | ||
| Gemcitabine | ||
| Methotrexate 50–250 mg/m2 | ||
| Mitomycin | ||
| Paclitaxel | ||
| 1 | <10% | Bleomycin |
| Busulfan | ||
| Chlorambucil | ||
| Fludarabine | ||
| Hydroxyurea | ||
| Melphalan | ||
| Methotrexate <50 mg/m2 | ||
| Thioguanine | ||
| Vinblastine | ||
| Vincristine | ||