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BMC Cancer
Published in: BMC Cancer 1/2017

Open Access 01-12-2017 | Case report

Aprepitant for refractory cutaneous T-cell lymphoma-associated pruritus: 4 cases and a review of the literature

Authors: Johanna S. Song, Marianne Tawa, Nicole G. Chau, Thomas S. Kupper, Nicole R. LeBoeuf

Published in: BMC Cancer | Issue 1/2017

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Abstract

Background

Aprepitant is an FDA-approved medication for chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting. It blocks substance P binding to neurokinin-1; substance P has been implicated in itch pathways both as a local and global mediator.

Case presentations

We report a series of four patients, diagnosed with cutaneous T-cell lymphoma, who experienced full body pruritus recalcitrant to standard therapies. All patients experienced rapid symptom improvement (within days) following aprepitant treatment.

Conclusion

Aprepitant has been shown in small studies to be efficacious for treating chronic and malignancy-associated pruritus. Prior studies have shown no change in clinical efficacy of chemotherapeutics with concurrent aprepitant administration. These cases further demonstrate that aprepitant can be considered as a therapeutic option in malignancy-associated pruritus and further support the need for larger clinical trials.
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Metadata
Title
Aprepitant for refractory cutaneous T-cell lymphoma-associated pruritus: 4 cases and a review of the literature
Authors
Johanna S. Song
Marianne Tawa
Nicole G. Chau
Thomas S. Kupper
Nicole R. LeBoeuf
Publication date
01-12-2017
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
BMC Cancer / Issue 1/2017
Electronic ISSN: 1471-2407
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12885-017-3194-8

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