Palonosetron Hydrochloride in Preventing Nausea and Vomiting Caused by Radiation Therapy in Patients With Primary Abdominal Cancer

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

Diagnosis of primary gastrointestinal and/or retroperitoneal sarcoma

Scheduled to undergo ≥ 3000 cGy or ≥ 3 weeks of external beam radiation to the abdomen

Radiotherapy fields to extend between T11 and L3, and of a size ≥ 100 cm^2
No brain metastases

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

ECOG performance status 0-2
Negative pregnancy test
Not pregnant or nursing
Fertile patients must use effective contraception
Able to complete questionnaire(s) alone or with assistance
Willing to return to NCCTG enrolling institution for follow-up
Able to reliably take oral medication (for purposes of rescue medication)
No hypersensitivity to palonosetron hydrochloride or other selective 5-HT3 receptor antagonists
No comorbid systemic illness or other severe concurrent disease that, in the judgment of the investigator, would make the patient inappropriate for study entry or interfere significantly with the proper assessment of safety and toxicity of the prescribed regimens
No nausea ≤ 48 hours prior to study enrollment
No history of dystonic reactions to prochlorperazine or haloperidol or related agents

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

See Disease Characteristics

More than 7 days since prior agents known to have significant effects on emesis, including the following:

Ondansetron
Sedating antihistamines
Antipsychotics
Cannabinoids
Corticosteroids
Metoclopramide
Narcotic analgesics
Benzodiazepines
More than 7 days since prior chemotherapy other than fluorouracil or capecitabine used as a radiosensitizer
More than 7 days since of prior cetuximab
More than 7 days since prior and no concurrent oral steroids
No prior palonosetron hydrochloride