title: Comparison of three different treatment modalities in the management of cancer cachexia.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The optimal treatment of cancer cachexia remains unknown. In this study, we compared the efficacy of three different treatment modalities in the management of cancer cachexia.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sixty-two assessable cachectic cancer patients were randomized to one of the following three arms: 1) megesterol acetate (MA) plus meloxicam (n = 23); 2) MA plus meloxicam plus oral eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA)-enriched nutritional supplement (n = 21); or 3) meloxicam plus oral EPA-enriched nutritional supplement (n = 18). Treatment duration was 3 months.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The treatment arms were well balanced at baseline. The primary efficacy (body weight and lean body mass) and secondary efficacy (body mass index, quality of life, and serum levels of IL-6 and TNF-α) parameters improved after treatment in all three arms. There were no statistically significant differences between treatment groups in the mean percentage changes in all efficacy parameters from baseline to end of study.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  MA plus meloxicam or EPA supplement plus meloxicam may be effective treatment options in the management of cancer cachexia. The combined use of these agents does not provide further advantages.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Oncology, Uludag University Faculty of Medicine, Bursa, Turkey. ozkanat@uludag.edu.tr
authors.forename: Ozkan
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Kanat
authors.forename: Erdem
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Cubukcu
authors.forename: Nilufer
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Avci
authors.forename: Ferah
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Budak
authors.forename: Ilker
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Ercan
authors.forename: Mustafa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Canhoroz
authors.forename: Fatih
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Olmez
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D019167:Appetite Stimulants / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002100:Cachexia / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology*; D016861:Cyclooxygenase Inhibitors / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D015118:Eicosapentaenoic Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D019290:Megestrol Acetate / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D000077239:Meloxicam; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000150:complications*; D011788:Quality of Life; D013843:Thiazines / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D013844:Thiazoles / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000097:blood; D015430:Weight Gain
chemical_list: D019167:Appetite Stimulants; D015415:Biomarkers; D016861:Cyclooxygenase Inhibitors; D015850:Interleukin-6; D013843:Thiazines; D013844:Thiazoles; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D015118:Eicosapentaenoic Acid; D019290:Megestrol Acetate; D000077239:Meloxicam