central (chemoreceptor trigger zone) and peripheral (gastrointestinal) processes may be involved (Stewart, 1990). Chemotherapy (antineoplastic agents) induced nausea and vomiting is mediated, at least in part, by the neurotransmitter serotonin (Hogan and Grant, 1997). The roles of other neurotransmitters in nausea and vomiting are unclear.

The following should be studied:

1. Relationship of terminal nausea to other symptoms of advanced disease, and

2. Mechanisms of terminal and treatment-induced nausea.

The following are needed:

1. trials of agents for nausea of advanced disease,

2. trials of agents for bowel obstruction, and

3. descriptive studies of prevalence, severity, and current treatment of terminal nausea.

Searching the CRISP database of current federal funding using the terms cancer and nausea or vomiting produced 13 hits. Three relate to basic or clinical research that might have relevance to clinical cancer nausea and vomiting. Of these studies, none are descriptive (including correlational and behavioral studies), one is an intervention study, and two are basic science studies.

Searching the CRISP database of current federal funding using the terms cancer and bowel obstruction produced only one hit, and this hit is not related to basic or clinical research on bowel obstruction in cancer.

Bowel Obstruction

1. Endoscopic Placement of Metal Stent in Patients with Cancer-Related Bowel Obstruction

2. Phase I/II Pilot Study of Enteral Wall Stents in Patients with Colonic Obstruction Secondary to Malignancy