Megestrol and Exercise in Treating Patients With Cancer-Related Weight Loss

Northwestern University

Overview

RATIONALE: Megestrol helps improve appetite. Exercise may decrease cancer-related fatigue, improve strength, and build up lost muscle tissue. Exercise plus megestrol may be effective treatment for cancer-related weight loss. PURPOSE: Phase II trial to study the effectiveness of megestrol plus exercise to improve appetite, increase strength, gain lean body tissue, and decrease fatigue in patients who have cancer-related weight loss.

OBJECTIVES: I. Determine the effect of megestrol and progressive resistance training on lean body mass, total body weight, functional capacity, appetite, and fatigue in patients with weight loss due to advanced malignancy. OUTLINE: This is a multicenter study. Patients receive oral megestrol once daily. Patients also begin progressive resistance training 3 days a week. Treatment/exercise continues for 12 weeks in the absence of unacceptable toxicity or progressive weight loss (greater than 5 pounds or 5% or more over first 4 study weeks). PROJECTED ACCRUAL: A total of 46 patients will be accrued for this study within 1 year.

Study Type

INTERVENTIONAL

Purpose

SUPPORTIVE_CARE

Conditions

Cachexia Fatigue Unspecified Adult Solid Tumor, Protocol Specific

Interventions

megestrol acetateDRUG

physical therapyPROCEDURE

Eligibility

Sex: ALLMin age: 18 Years

Medical Language ↔ Plain English

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: Advanced nonhormone responsive malignancy (metastatic or incurable) Nonvolitional weight loss of between 6-9% of usual body weight over past 6 months OR Decrease of 5 pounds in the past 2 months or less (not greater than 10% loss of usual body weight) No clinical or radiologic evidence of ascites or pleural effusion No lytic bone metastases PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: Age: Over 18 Performance status: ECOG 0-1 Life expectancy: At least 4 months Hematopoietic: Not specified Hepatic: Not specified Renal: Not specified Cardiovascular: No venous thrombosis No congestive heart failure Other: Able to participate in exercise program for 1 hour, 3 times/week No physical handicap that precludes aerobic or resistance exercise No clinical abnormality that renders exercise a risk At least 1 month since strength training of 3 hours or more per week No physical or functional obstruction to food intake No uncontrolled emesis greater than 5 episodes/week No diarrhea greater than 4 stools/day intractable to antidiarrheal medication No IV hyperalimentation No contraindications to megestrol No dementia or mental incompetence No known AIDS Not pregnant or nursing Negative pregnancy test PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: Biologic therapy: Not specified Chemotherapy: Not specified Endocrine therapy: No concurrent adrenal steroids (other than for replacement), anabolics, appetite stimulants, or progestational agents Intermittent corticosteroids as antiemetic or premedication for cancer treatment allowed At least 6 weeks since prior megestrol Radiotherapy: Not specified Surgery: Not specified

Locations (6)

University of Arkansas - Department of Geriatrics

North Little Rock, Arkansas, United States

Pacific Shores Medical Group

Long Beach, California, United States

Shands Hospital and Clinics, University of Florida

Gainesville, Florida, United States

Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center, Northwestern University

Chicago, Illinois, United States

Data from ClinicalTrials.gov

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