A pilot study of megestrol acetate and ibuprofen in the treatment of cachexia in gastrointestinal cancer patients.
Advanced gastrointestinal cancer patients with weight loss and an acute-phase response (n = 15) were given megestrol acetate (480 mg day(-1)) and ibuprofen (1200 mg day(-1)) for 6 weeks. Overall, there was an increase in body weight (P = 0.01) and a reduction in C-reactive protein concentrations (P = 0.02), with no change in total body water (P = 0.24) over this period. This regimen may be an effective non-toxic treatment for cancer cachexia and is worthy of further study.
McMillan
D C
DC
University Department of Surgery, Royal Infirmary, Glasgow, UK.
O'Gorman
P
P
Fearon
K C
KC
McArdle
C S
CS
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D019167:Appetite Stimulants / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001834:Body Water / Q000187:drug effects; D001835:Body Weight / Q000187:drug effects; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000378:metabolism; D002100:Cachexia / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005260:Female; D005770:Gastrointestinal Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D007052:Ibuprofen / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D019290:Megestrol Acetate / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008875:Middle Aged; D010865:Pilot Projects
D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D019167:Appetite Stimulants; D002097:C-Reactive Protein; D019290:Megestrol Acetate; D007052:Ibuprofen