Assessing Chemotherapy-Induced Nausea and Vomiting in Breast Cancer Patients in Malaysia: Insights into Quality of Life and Genetic Influences
Main Article Content
Abstract
Background: Malaysia faces a persistent public health challenge in the form of breast cancer, which affects approximately one in twenty women and accounts for a significant proportion of cancer-related mortality across diverse ethnic groups and age demographics. Despite the advancements in cancer therapeutics, the side effects of chemotherapy, particularly nausea and vomiting, continue to profoundly impact the quality of life of breast cancer patients.
Objective: The objective of this scoping review is to explore the prevalence, management practices, and factors contributing to chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting (CINV) among breast cancer patients in Malaysia, with a focus on its implications for patient care and treatment outcomes.
Methodology: A systematic search of PubMed, Scopus, and local Malaysian journals was conducted to identify relevant studies. The articles identified were then screened and selected based on predefined inclusion criteria. Key themes related to CINV prevalence, management strategies, and patient outcomes were extracted and synthesized.
Findings: The review's findings underscore the prominence of nausea and vomiting as major side effects of breast cancer chemotherapy, leading to complications such as poor treatment adherence and suboptimal response rates. The analysis indicates that current management practices within Malaysia's healthcare system are inadequate in alleviating the severity of CINV or enhancing patients' quality of life. Furthermore, the multiethnic composition of the Malaysian population introduces genetic variations that influence drug metabolism, resulting in disparities in treatment efficacy and tolerability.
Conclusion: The findings underscore the critical impact of CINV on the quality of life of breast cancer patients, highlighting the necessity for a re-evaluation of existing treatment guidelines and the development of customized strategies tailored to the Malaysian population. Enhancing CINV prevention and management practices has the potential to markedly improve patient health outcomes and treatment success.
Article Details

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.
References
Aapro, M. (2004). Granisetron: An Update on its Clinical Use in the Management of Nausea and Vomiting. The Oncologist, 9(6), 673–686. https://doi.org/10.1634/theoncologist.9-6-673
Ahmadian, M., & Samah, A. A. (2013). Application of Health Behavior Theories to Breast Cancer Screening among Asian Women. Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention, 14(7), 4005–4013. https://doi.org/10.7314/APJCP.2013.14.7.4005
Bloechl-Daum, B., Deuson, R. R., Mavros, P., Hansen, M., & Herrstedt, J. (2006). Delayed Nausea and Vomiting Continue to Reduce Patients’ Quality of Life After Highly and Moderately Emetogenic Chemotherapy Despite Antiemetic Treatment. Journal of Clinical Oncology, 24(27), 4472–4478. https://doi.org/10.1200/JCO.2006.05.6382
Booth, C. M., Clemons, M., Dranitsaris, G., Joy, A., Young, S., Callaghan, W., Trudeau, M., & Petrella, T. (2007). Chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting in breast cancer patients: a prospective observational study. The Journal of Supportive Oncology, 5(8), 374–380.
Bray, F., McCarron, P., & Parkin, D. M. (2004). The changing global patterns of female breast cancer incidence and mortality. Breast Cancer Research, 6(6), 229. https://doi.org/10.1186/bcr932
Chee Chean, D., Kuo Zang, W., Lim, M., & Zulkefle, N. (2016). Health Related Quality of Life (HRQoL) among Breast Cancer Patients Receiving Chemotherapy in Hospital Melaka: Single Centre Experience. Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention : APJCP, 17(12), 5121–5126. https://doi.org/10.22034/APJCP.2016.17.12.5121
Chin Chye, G. L., Rampal, S., & Yahaya, H. (2008). Cancer Incidence in Peninsular Malaysia, 2003-2005, 3rd Edition.
Choi, C. K. K., Chan, R. T. T., Au, G. K. H., & Lui, L. C. Y. (2005). A Retrospective Study of Adjuvant Chemotherapy with Adriamycin plus Cyclophosphamide, Methotrexate and 5-Fluorouracil for Postoperative Carcinoma of Breast: 6-Year Experience in a Single Institution. Hong Kong J Radiol , 8, 150–156.
Dahlui, M., Ramli, S., & Bulgiba, A. M. (2011). Breast cancer prevention and control programs in Malaysia. Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention : APJCP, 12(6), 1631–1634. PMID: 22126511.
Dewan, P., Singhal, S., & Harit, D. (2010). Management of chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting. Indian Pediatrics, 47(2), 149–155. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13312-010-0023-4
Ganesh, S., Lye, M.-S., & Lau, F. N. (2016). Quality of Life among Breast Cancer Patients In Malaysia. Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention, 17(4), 1677–1684. https://doi.org/10.7314/APJCP.2016.17.4.1677
Gross, A. S., Bridge, S., & Shenfield, G. M. (1999). Pharmacokinetics of tolbutamide in ethnic Chinese. British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology, 47(2), 151–156. https://doi.org/10.1046/j.1365-2125.1999.00868.x
Grunberg, S. M., Slusher, B., & Rugo, H. S. (2013). Emerging treatments in chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting. Clinical Advances in Hematology & Oncology : H&O, 11(2 Suppl 1), 1–18; quiz 2 p following 18.
Gupta, K., Walton, R., & Kataria, S. P. (2021). Chemotherapy-Induced Nausea and Vomiting: Pathogenesis, Recommendations, and New Trends. Cancer Treatment and Research Communications, 26, 100278. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ctarc.2020.100278
Hadi, M. A., Hassali, M. A., Shafie, A. A., & Awaisu, A. (2010). Evaluation of breast cancer awareness among female university students in Malaysia. Pharmacy Practice (Internet), 8(1). https://doi.org/10.4321/S1886-36552010000100003
Harirchi, I., Karbakhsh, M., Kashefi, A., & Momtahen, A. J. (2004). Breast cancer in Iran: results of a multi-center study. Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention : APJCP, 5(1), 24–27.
Hassan, B. A. R., & Yusoff, Z. B. M. (2010). Negative impact of chemotherapy on breast cancer patients QOL - utility of antiemetic treatment guidelines and the role of race. Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention : APJCP, 11(6), 1523–1527.
Hassan, B. A. R., & Yusoff, Z. B. M. (2011). Genetic polymorphisms in the three malaysian races effect granisetron clinical antiemetic actions in breast cancer patients receiving chemotherapy. Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention : APJCP, 12(1), 185–191.
Hesketh, P. J. (2005). Management of nausea and vomiting in cancer and cancer treatment. 256.
Hisham, A. N., & Yip, C.-H. (2004). Overview of Breast Cancer in Malaysian Women: A Problem with Late Diagnosis. Asian Journal of Surgery, 27(2), 130–133. https://doi.org/10.1016/S1015-9584(09)60326-2
Ibrahim, N. I., Dahlui, M., Aina, E. N., & Al-Sadat, N. (2012). Who are the Breast Cancer Survivors in Malaysia? Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention, 13(5), 2213–2218. https://doi.org/10.7314/APJCP.2012.13.5.2213
Jemal, A., Bray, F., Center, M. M., Ferlay, J., Ward, E., & Forman, D. (2011). Global cancer statistics. CA: A Cancer Journal for Clinicians, 61(2), 69–90. https://doi.org/10.3322/caac.20107
Kaiser, R., Sezer, O., Papies, A., Bauer, S., Schelenz, C., Tremblay, P.-B., Possinger, K., Roots, I., & Brockmöller, J. (2002). Patient-Tailored Antiemetic Treatment With 5-Hydroxytryptamine Type 3 Receptor Antagonists According to Cytochrome P-450 2D6 Genotypes. Journal of Clinical Oncology, 20(12), 2805–2811. https://doi.org/10.1200/JCO.2002.09.064
Kottschade, L., Novotny, P., Lyss, A., Mazurczak, M., Loprinzi, C., & Barton, D. (2016). Chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting: incidence and characteristics of persistent symptoms and future directions NCCTG N08C3 (Alliance). Supportive Care in Cancer, 24(6), 2661–2667. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00520-016-3080-y
Lua, P. L., Salihah Zakaria, N., & Mazlan, N. (2016). Chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting: exploring patients’ subjective experience. Journal of Multidisciplinary Healthcare, 145. https://doi.org/10.2147/JMDH.S97695
Lua, P. L., Zakaria, N. S., & Mamat, N. M. (2012). HEALTH-RELATED QUALITY OF LIFE PROFILE IN RELATION TO CHEMOTHERAPY-INDUCED NAUSEA AND VOMITING AMONG BREAST CANCER PATIENTS. Asean Journal of Psychiatry, 13, 3–12.
Mallick, K. K., & Cheen, L. H. (2013). Review of Breast Cancer Cases Admitted In Hospital Sultanah Bahiyah, Alor Setar, Malaysia. IOSR Journal of Pharmacy (IOSRPHR), 03(09), 60–62. https://doi.org/10.9790/3013-0309-60-62
Miao, H., Hartman, M., Bhoo-Pathy, N., Lee, S.-C., Taib, N. A., Tan, E.-Y., Chan, P., Moons, K. G. M., Wong, H.-S., Goh, J., Rahim, S. M., Yip, C.-H., & Verkooijen, H. M. (2014). Predicting Survival of De Novo Metastatic Breast Cancer in Asian Women: Systematic Review and Validation Study. PLoS ONE, 9(4), e93755. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0093755
Mujar, M., Dahlui, M., Yip, C. H., & Taib, N. A. (2013). Delays in time to primary treatment after a diagnosis of breast cancer: Does it impact survival? Preventive Medicine, 56(3–4), 222–224. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ypmed.2012.12.001
Mustian, K. M., Devine, K., Ryan, J. L., Janelsins, M. C., Sprod, L. K., Peppone, L. J., Candelario, G. D., Mohile, S. G., & Morrow, G. R. (2011). Treatment of Nausea and Vomiting During Chemotherapy. Oncology & Hematology Review (US), 07(02), 91. https://doi.org/10.17925/OHR.2011.07.2.91
O’Shaughnessy, J. (2003). Liposomal Anthracyclines for Breast Cancer: Overview. The Oncologist, 8(S2), 1–2. https://doi.org/10.1634/theoncologist.8-suppl_2-1
Petro‐Nustus, W., & Mikhail, B. I. (2002). Factors Associated with Breast Self‐Examination Among Jordanian Women. Public Health Nursing, 19(4), 263–271. https://doi.org/10.1046/j.1525-1446.2002.19406.x
Rhodes, V. A., & McDaniel, R. W. (2001). Nausea, Vomiting, and Retching: Complex Problems in Palliative Care. CA: A Cancer Journal for Clinicians, 51(4), 232–248. https://doi.org/10.3322/canjclin.51.4.232
Ruzilawati, A. B., Suhaimi, A. W. M., & Gan, S. H. (2007). Genetic polymorphisms of CYP3A4: CYP3A4⁎18 allele is found in five healthy Malaysian subjects. Clinica Chimica Acta, 383(1–2), 158–162. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cca.2007.05.004
Schwartz, K., Fakhouri, M., Bartoces, M., Monsur, J., & Younis, A. (2008). Mammography Screening Among Arab American Women in Metropolitan Detroit. Journal of Immigrant and Minority Health, 10(6), 541–549. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10903-008-9140-8
Secginli, S., & Nahcivan, N. O. (2006). Factors associated with breast cancer screening behaviours in a sample of Turkish women: A questionnaire survey. International Journal of Nursing Studies, 43(2), 161–171. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijnurstu.2005.02.004
Taib, N. A., Yip, C.-H., & Low, W.-Y. (2011). Recognising symptoms of breast cancer as a reason for delayed presentation in Asian women--the psycho-socio-cultural model for breast symptom appraisal: opportunities for intervention. Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention : APJCP, 12(6), 1601–1608.
World Health Organization, N. (2008). The Global Burden of Disease: 2004 update. Update, 2010, 146. https://doi.org/10.1038/npp.2011.85
Yip, C. H., Taib, N. A. M., & Mohamed, I. (2006). Epidemiology of breast cancer in Malaysia. Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention : APJCP, 7(3), 369–374.
Yusuf, A., Ab Hadi, I. S., Mahamood, Z., Ahmad, Z., & Keng, S. L. (2013). Understanding the Breast Cancer Experience: a Qualitative Study of Malaysian Women. Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention, 14(6), 3689–3698. https://doi.org/10.7314/APJCP.2013.14.6.3689
Zainal Ariffin, O., & Nor Saleha, I. (2011). National Cancer Registry Report 2007. Ministry of Health, Malaysia. . Scientific Research Publishing. https://www.scirp.org/reference/referencespapers?referenceid=2070012