Dexamethasone antiemetic activity

Augments the antiemetic activity of the 5-HT3-receptor antagonist ondansetron and the corticosteroid dexamethasone and inhibits both the acute and delayed phases of cisplatin-induced emesis... 

Metallothionein is also induced by a variety of nonmetals, and exposure to these agents often can cause tesistance to anticancer drugs such as cisplatin (Basu and Lazo 1991). Expression of v mos can attenuate the glucocorticoid-induced metallothionein expression and cisplatin resistance. Transcriptional activation of c-Ha-ras oncogene expression in murine NIH 3T3 cells with dexamethasone produces an increase in metallothionein content and a decrease in cisplatin accumulation (Isonishi et al. 1991). The ability of dexamethasone to affect the sensitivity of cells to electrophilic antineoplastic agents could be of some clinical interest because of its frequent usage as an antiemetic. 

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