title: Beneficial effects of an anabolic steroid during cytotoxic chemotherapy for metastatic cancer.
abstract: To investigate the effects of concurrent administration of an anabolic steroid upon hematopoiesis and metabolism in patients with cancer who were receiving cytotoxic chemotherapy, a randomized trial was conducted. Thirty-three evaluable patients received intensive multiple-agent chemotherapy: 17 received in addition nandrolone decanoate ("Deca-Durabolin"), 200 mg intramuscularly each week. The nandrolone-treated patients showed significantly better maintenance of hemoglobin concentrations and body weight, and a highly significant reduction in number of blood transfusions. Improved survival in the androgen-treated patients did not achieve significance. There were no differences in neutrophil or platelet counts or in tolerance of cytotoxic drugs. Toxicity from nandrolone therapy was minimal.
mesh_terms: D045930:Anabolic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001772:Blood Cell Count; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D004920:Erythropoiesis / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D009277:Nandrolone / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000077603:Nandrolone Decanoate; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*
chemical_list: D045930:Anabolic Agents; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D009277:Nandrolone; D000077603:Nandrolone Decanoate