Latest advances in the management of radiation-induced pain flare, nausea and vomiting

Palliative radiotherapy (RT) has been well-established as an effective treatment for symptomatic bone metastases (1). In this patient population, response rates often approach 60% (2). Nevertheless, palliative RT is associated with several treatment-related side-effects including pain flare, defined as a temporary worsening in pain (3,4). In addition, RT has shown to lead to radiation-induced nausea and vomiting (RINV) (5). The management of pain flare and RINV are important objectives in supportive care. Recent developments have been investigated to add to the currently available management options (6,7). The purpose of the current review is to provide a background on pain flare and RINV, as well as to discuss the novel advances in their management