title: Is the pharmacological treatment of cancer cachexia possible?
abstract: Cancer cachexia is highly prevalent in patients with advanced cancer. Its main clinical manifestation is profound anorexia. Progestational drugs have shown meaningful effects on appetite, food intake, and nutritional status in patients with advanced cancer and AIDS, and could be useful in managing anorexia. Corticosteroids also seem to produce increased appetite, but these effects are short-lived. Cyproheptadine, hydrazine sulfate, and cannabinoids also are being studied in the management of cancer-induced anorexia, but their role has not yet been clearly established. Future research should evaluate how the different drugs affect specific symptoms associated with cachexia.
authors.affiliation: Palliative Care Program, Edmonton General Hospital, Alberta, Canada.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Bruera
mesh_terms: D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000855:Anorexia / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002100:Cachexia / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D002186:Cannabinoids / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002985:Clinical Protocols; D003533:Cyproheptadine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004750:Enteral Nutrition; D006801:Humans; D006834:Hydrazines / Q000627:therapeutic use; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000150:complications*; D009752:Nutritional Status; D010288:Parenteral Nutrition; D011372:Progestins / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011788:Quality of Life
chemical_list: D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D002186:Cannabinoids; D006834:Hydrazines; D011372:Progestins; C029424:hydrazine; D003533:Cyproheptadine