title: Phase II drugs that are currently in development for the treatment of cachexia.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Cachexia is a syndrome presenting with progressive unintentional weight loss and wasting and weakness of skeletal muscle. Cachexia is prevalent in cancer and in chronic diseases including chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
  
  
  METHODS
  The authors searched trial registers for current Phase II clinical trials on cachexia. Twelve studies were found with 11 compounds, including the anti-inflammatory drugs thalidomide, OHR/AVR118, celecoxib, VT-122, omega-3 supplements, and anabolic agents such as ghrelin analogues, MT-102, BYM338 and ruxolotinib. The authors note that one of the studies related to COPD while the others were related to different cancers. Herein, the authors describe the mechanisms of action and their Phase II study design.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The compounds under study affect several pathways involved in cachexia by modulating inflammatory activity, anabolic potential, digestion and direct interaction with the muscle. Due to the multifactorial aspects of cachexia syndrome, combinations of these new drugs with nutritional intervention is probably the most promising approach. Furthermore, future studies should include interventions in pre-cachetic patients, as this stage might be more responsive to treatment. Future studies will benefit from well-defined end points and improved measures of cachexia, providing new insight into the disease. This insight, in combination with the elucidation of cachexia's underlying mechanism, will yield new treatment strategies in the near future.
authors: Maastricht University Medical Center, Department of Respiratory Medicine , PO Box 5800, 6202 AZ Maastricht , The Netherlands +31 43 3871318 ; +31 43 3875051 ; a.dingemans @mumc.nl.
authors: Anne-Marie C
authors: AM
authors: Dingemans
authors: Judith
authors: J
authors: de Vos-Geelen
authors: Ramon
authors: R
authors: Langen
authors: Annemie M W
authors: AM
authors: Schols
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002100:Cachexia / Q000188:drug therapy*; D015507:Drugs, Investigational / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans
chemical_list: D015507:Drugs, Investigational
keywords: appetite stimulants; body composition; cachexia; cancer; chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; cytokine antagonists; ghrelin; myostatin