Megestrol acetate for the palliation of anorexia in advanced, incurable cancer patients.
Anorexia, or loss of appetite, is a troubling symptom for many patients with advanced cancer. The early observation that breast cancer patients, who were prescribed megestrol acetate as a cancer treatment, went on to increase their appetite and gain weight has given rise to a large number of clinical trials that have tested this progestational drug as a palliative agent for the cancer anorexia/weight loss syndrome. This review focuses on these trials, summarizing their findings and providing a practical approach for prescribing megestrol acetate to advanced cancer patients who suffer from the cancer anorexia/weight loss syndrome.
Mateen
Farrah
F
Department of Neurology, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine, Rochester, MN 55905, USA.
Jatoi
Aminah
A
D000855:Anorexia / Q000188:drug therapy*; D018931:Antineoplastic Agents, Hormonal / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001835:Body Weight / Q000187:drug effects*; D006801:Humans; D019290:Megestrol Acetate / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D010166:Palliative Care; D015430:Weight Gain
D018931:Antineoplastic Agents, Hormonal; D019290:Megestrol Acetate