Abstract:Objective To investigate the efficacy of a dual therapy regimen consisting of ondansetron and dexamethasone versus a triple therapy regimen comprising ondansetron, aprepitant, and dexamethasone in treating chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting (CINV) in patients with malignant tumors.Methods A retrospective study was conducted to collect data from 120 CINV patients receiving chemotherapy in the oncology department of our institution between January 2021 and July 2023. The patients were divided into two groups based on the treatment regimen: the two-drug group (60 patients) received ondansetron and dexamethasone, and the three-drug group (60 patients) received ondansetron, aprepitant, and dexamethasone. The severity of nausea and vomiting, the Functional Living Index for Nausea and Vomiting (FLIE) scores, Karnofsky Performance Status (KPS) scores, serum serotonin (5-HT) and dopamine (DA) levels, and the incidence of adverse reactions were compared between the two groups.Results After treatment, the severity of nausea and vomiting symptoms in the triple therapy group was lower than that in the dual therapy group (P < 0.05). The FLIE scores in the triple therapy group were lower, while the KPS scores were higher than those in the dual therapy group (P < 0.05). Additionally, serum levels of 5-HT and DA in the triple therapy group were lower than those in the dual therapy group (P < 0.05). There was no statistically significant difference in the incidence of adverse reactions between the two groups (P > 0.05).Conclusion This study indicates that the triple therapy regimen (ondansetron, aprepitant, and dexamethasone) is significantly more effective than the dual therapy regimen (ondansetron and dexamethasone) in treating chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting in cancer patients. Furthermore, the incidence of adverse reactions is similar between the two regimens. Therefore, the triple therapy regimen shows superior clinical value and a broader prospect for clinical application.