APF530 or Aloxi (Palonosetron Hydrochloride) Combined With Dexamethasone in Preventing Nausea and Vomiting in Patients Receiving Chemotherapy for Cancer

OBJECTIVES: Primary * Compare the overall activity and effects of APF530 versus palonosetron hydrochloride in combination with dexamethasone for prophylaxis of acute- or delayed-onset, chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting in patients undergoing moderately or highly emetogenic chemotherapy for cancer. Secondary * Evaluate the safety, tolerability, and efficacy of APF530, in terms of prevention of acute- and delayed-onset nausea and vomiting, in these patients. * Gather the pharmacokinetics of APF530 in a subset of patients during chemotherapy course 1. * Gather ECG data (using 24-hour Holter monitoring) in a subset of patients during chemotherapy course 1. OUTLINE: This is a randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind, parallel-group, multicenter study. Patients are stratified according to emetogenicity of scheduled chemotherapy (moderate-risk \[level 3 or 4\] vs high-risk \[level 5\]). Patients are randomized to 1 of 3 treatment arms (I, II, and III). Patients who are randomized to receive palonosetron hydrochloride during chemotherapy course 1 (arm I) are then re-randomized to 1 of 2 treatment arms (II and III) after chemotherapy course 1 to receive treatment during chemotherapy courses 2-4. Patients receive palonosetron hydrochloride or APF530 and/or placebo 30-60 minutes before the start of chemotherapy. Patients receive dexamethasone 30-90 minutes before the start of chemotherapy. * Arm I: Patients receive palonosetron hydrochloride IV, placebo subcutaneously (SC), and dexamethasone IV on day 1 of chemotherapy course 1. Patients in the high-risk (level 5) stratum also receive oral dexamethasone on days 2-4 of all treatment courses. * Arm II: Patients receive APF530 SC, placebo IV, and dexamethasone IV on day 1 of chemotherapy course 1. Patients then receive APF530 SC and dexamethasone IV on day 1 of chemotherapy courses 2-4. Patients in the high-risk (level 5) stratum also receive oral dexamethasone as in arm I. * Arm III: Patients receive APF530 SC at a higher dose, placebo IV, and dexamethasone IV on day 1 of chemotherapy course 1. Patients then receive APF530 SC (at the same higher dose) and dexamethasone IV on day 1 of chemotherapy courses 2-4. Patients in the high-risk (level 5) stratum also receive oral dexamethasone as in arm I. A subset of patients undergo blood collection periodically during study for analysis of plasma APF530 concentration. Quality of life is assessed on day 5 after completion of chemotherapy course 1. After completion of study treatment, patients are followed at approximately 30 days.