Standards, Options and Recommendations for the use of appetite stimulants in oncology (2000)

Managing Cachexia in Head and Neck Cancer: a Systematic Scoping Review

Introduction

Patients with head and neck cancer (HNC) are usually confronted with functional changes due to the malignancy itself or its treatment. These factors typically affect important structures involved in speech, breathing, chewing, swallowing, and saliva production. Consequently, the intake of food will be limited, which further contributes to loss of body weight and muscle mass, anorexia, malnutrition, fatigue, and anemia. This multifactorial condition can ultimately lead to cancer cachexia syndrome. This study aims to examine the treatment of cachexia in HNC patients.

Methods

We systematically searched OvidMedline, PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science for articles examining the treatment of cachexia in HNC.

Results

A total of nine studies were found, and these suggested interventions including nutritional, pharmacologic, therapeutic exercise, and multimodal approaches. The nutritional intervention includes essential components such as dietary counseling, oral nutritional supplements, and medical nutritional support. Individualized nutritional interventions include oral, enteral (feeding tubes i.e., percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy [PEG], nasogastric tube [NGT]) and parenteral nutrition. The pharmacologic interventions aim at increasing the appetite and weight of cachectic patients. Therapeutic exercise and increased physical activity can help to enhance the synthesis of muscle protein, reducing inflammation and the catabolic effects of cachexia syndrome.

Conclusion

Owing to the multifactorial nature of this syndrome, it is expected that the management approach should be multi-interventional. Early implementation of these interventions may help to improve survival and quality of health and life of cachectic HNC patients.

Impact of Glucocorticoid Use in Oncology in the Immunotherapy Era

Thanks to their anti-inflammatory, anti-oedema, and anti-allergy properties, glucocorticoids are among the most widely prescribed drugs in patients with cancer. The indications for glucocorticoid use are very wide and varied in the context of cancer and include the symptomatic management of cancer-related symptoms (compression, pain, oedema, altered general state) but also prevention or treatment of common side effects of anti-cancer therapies (nausea, allergies, etc.) or immune-related adverse events (irAE). In this review, we first give an overview of the different clinical situations where glucocorticoids are used in oncology. Next, we describe the current state of knowledge regarding the effects of these molecules on immune response, in particular anti-tumour response, and we summarize available data evaluating how these effects may interfere with the efficacy of immunotherapy using immune checkpoint inhibitors.

Understanding Cachexia in Head and Neck Cancer

One of the major comorbidities of cancer and cancer therapy is posing a global health problem in cancer cachexia. Cancer cachexia is now considered a multifactorial syndrome that presents with drastic loss of body weight, anorexia, asthenia, and anemia. Head and neck cancer (HNC) patients are at a greater risk for development and severity of cachexia syndrome as there is direct involvement of structures associated with nutritional intake. Yet, the scientific evidence, approach, and management of cachexia in HNCs are yet to be largely explored. The article aims to succinctly review the concepts of cancer cachexia with relevance to HNCs and summarizes the current findings from recent research.

Solid Tumor Complicated With Venous Thromboembolism: A 10-Year Retrospective Cross-Sectional Study

Venous thromboembolism (VTE), including pulmonary embolism (PE) and deep vein thrombosis (DVT) occurs more frequently in cancer patients than in the general population. A retrospective cross-sectional study was carried out in patients with solid tumor complicated with VTE admitted to the Cancer Center, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology between January 1st, 2008 and December 31th, 2017. The incidence of VTE in hospitalized cancer patients was 1.8%, twice the incidence of VTE in hospitalized non-cancer patients. The annual incidence of cancer-associated VTE in our center varied between 1.6% in 2015 and 0.4% in 2009 with an overall average incidence of 1.3% over the research decade. BMI values of 549(67.7%) cancer patients were within the normal range, but none of patients had BMI greater than 35 kg/m². 747(92.1%) cancer patients had ECOG PS score ≤ 2 and 481(59.3%) had distant metastasis. Patients with pancreatic, bladder, ovarian and endometrial cancer had the highest incidence of VTE. Upper extremity DVT (47.2%) was more common in cancer patients and might be closely associated with CVC (74.9%), while lower extremities DVT (36.1%) intended to PE development (15.0%). The annual incidence rates showed a fluctuating and upward trend over the research decade. VTE occurrence was closely related to tumor stage, tumor site, catheterization and anti-neoplasm therapy in cancer patients.

Efficacy and safety of Yukgunja-Tang for treating anorexia in patients with cancer: The protocol for a pilot, randomized, controlled trial

BACKGROUND

Anorexia is a common cause of malnutrition and is associated with negative effects on the quality of life (QOL) for patients with cancer. Management of appetite is the key to improving both the QOL and the prognosis for such patients. Yukgunja-tang (YGJT) is a traditional herbal medicine extensively prescribed in Korea as a remedy for various gastrointestinal syndromes. Currently, no standardized herbal medicine treatment exists for patients with cancer who are suffering from anorexia after surgery, chemotherapy, and/or radiotherapy. For that reason, this study aims to examine the efficacy and the safety of using YGJT to treat anorexia in such patients and to establish whether or not YGJT can be recommended as the primary therapy.

METHODS

We will enroll 52 cancer patients diagnosed with anorexia. The enrolled participants will be randomly allocated to 2 groups: The control group will receive nutrition counseling, and the YGJT group will receive nutrition counseling and be administered YGJT at a dose of 3 g twice a day for 4 weeks (a total of 56 doses of 3.0 g per dose). The primary outcome of this study is the change in the score on the anorexia/cachexia subscale (A/CS) of the Functional Assessment of Anorexia/Cachexia Therapy (FAACT). The secondary outcomes are the changes in the FAACT score with the A/CS score excluded, the score on the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) for appetite, the weight and the body mass index (BMI), and laboratory tests for compounds such as leptin, tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), ghrelin, and IL-6. All variables related to the safety assessment, such as vital signs, electrocardiography results, laboratory test results (CBC, chemistry, urine test), and adverse events, will be documented on the case report form (CRF) at every visit.

CONCLUSION

This study is the first randomized controlled trial to investigate the efficacy and the safety of using YGJT for treating patients with cancer-related anorexia in Korea. We designed this study based on previous research about YGJT. This study will serve as a pilot and provide data for planning further clinical trials on herbal medicine and cancer-related anorexia.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

Clinical Research Information Service (CRIS), Republic of Korea, ID: KCT0002847. Registered retrospectively on 3 April 2018.

Cancer cachexia update in head and neck cancer: Pathophysiology and treatment

The pathophysiology of cancer cachexia remains complex. A comprehensive literature search was performed up to April 2013 using PubMed, the Cochrane Library, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature, and the Google search engine. In this review, we focus on the different mediators of impaired anabolism and upregulated catabolism that alter the skeletal muscle homeostasis resulting in the wasting of cancer cachexia. We present recent evidence of targeted treatment modalities from clinical trials along with their potential mechanisms of action. We also report on the most current evidence from randomized clinical trials using multimodal treatments in patients with cancer cachexia, but also the evidence from head and neck cancer-specific trials. A more complete understanding of the pathophysiology of the syndrome may lead to more effective targeted therapies and improved outcomes for patients.

Cancer cachexia syndrome in head and neck cancer patients: part I. Diagnosis, impact on quality of life and survival, and treatment

BACKGROUND

Cancer cachexia is a debilitating, wasting condition that affects many cancer patients, including those with head and neck cancer. The overall incidence of cancer cachexia is quite high for some types of cancer, and cachexia will be the main cause of death for more than 20% of all cancer patients. This syndrome uniquely challenges patients with head and neck cancer. This article outlines the diagnosis of cancer cachexia, reviews its impact on patient quality of life (QOL) and survival, and updates the reader on potential therapies that may suppress it.

METHODS

A comprehensive literature search was performed using PubMed of the National Library of Medicine, which includes more than 15 million citations back to the 1950s. The Cochrane Library and Google search engine were used as well.

RESULTS

This syndrome differs significantly from starvation, and thus accurate and timely diagnosis is essential. Nutritional therapy alone is insufficient. Current management strategies include corticosteroids and megesterol acetate, in conjunction with nutritional therapy. Future strategies may include nutraceuticals, omega-3 fatty acids, inflammatory antagonists, and other targeted treatments.

CONCLUSIONS

Because cancer cachexia differs significantly from starvation, nutritional supplementation must be used in conjunction with other anti-cachexia agents to reverse the chronic systemic inflammatory state and the effects of circulating tumor-derived factors seen in cachexia. Careful identification of patients at risk and those suffering from this syndrome will lead to better outcomes and treatments. Ultimately, more research is needed to better treat this devastating condition.

Management of Symptoms Other than Pain

Symptom management requires an understanding of the likely cause of the symptom in the individual patient, comprehensive assessment, and evidence-based interventions. This article explores the management strategies for common symptoms encountered in palliative care practice. Stomatitis, xerostomia, dysphagia, nausea and vomiting, anorexia, constipation, dyspnea, and fatigue are among the symptoms reviewed.

Treatment of unintentional weight loss in patients with cancer

Malnutrition from anorexia and reduced nutrient intake is common in patients with cancer. Abnormalities in gastrointestinal function caused by the tumor or treatment of the tumor may be direct causes for nutrition challenges. However, other patients may present with cancer cachexia, a wasting syndrome characterized by weight loss, anorexia, early satiety, progressive debilitation, and malnutrition that results in a greater risk of organ dysfunction and death. Changes in host metabolism and energy expenditure are thought to contribute to the development of cachexia, although this relationship is not clear. There is evidence that the etiology of these metabolic changes may be mediated by a neurohormonal response stimulated by the tumor. Because a single cause for these metabolic abnormalities has not been identified, several approaches to treatment of cancer cachexia have been reported. After correction of any underlying gastrointestinal abnormalities, single nutrients or other pharmacologic agents have been used in an attempt to favorably affect appetite or counter metabolic abnormalities that cause inefficient nutrient use. A variety of agents have been studied for their positive effects on appetite, including progestational agents, glucocorticoids, cannabinoids, cyproheptadine, olanzapine, and mirtazapine. Other agents have been investigated for their anti-inflammatory properties, including thalidomide, pentoxyphylline, melatonin, and omega-3 fatty acids. Anabolic agents such as testosterone derivatives have been investigated as well. The decision to treat symptoms of cancer cachexia should be based on the patient's desires and current medical condition. Choice of the most appropriate agent to treat unintentional weight loss in patients with cancer should include consideration of effects on appetite, weight, quality of life, and risk of adverse effects according to current evidence-based medicine, and cost and availability of the agent.

Review article: anorexia and cachexia in gastrointestinal cancer

In patients with gastrointestinal malignancies, i.e. cancers of the stomach, colon, liver, biliary tract or pancreas, progressive undernutrition can be regularly observed during the course of illness. Undernutrition significantly affects the patients' quality of life, morbidity and survival. Pathogenetically, two different causes are relevant in the development of undernutrition in patients with gastrointestinal cancer. One cause is reduced nutritional intake. This condition is referred to as anorexia and can be worsened by the side effects of cancer therapy. The other cause is the release of endogenous transmitters and/or other products of the tumour leading to the cachexia syndrome, which is characterized by loss of body weight, negative nitrogen balance and fatigue. Cancer anorexia and cancer cachexia may have synergistic negative effects in affecting the patients' status. In this review, current nutritional support strategies with respect to different clinically relevant situations are described. An algorithm of the treatment strategies, including dietetic counselling, oral supplements, enteral and parenteral nutritional support is given. One focus is the approach of nutrition-focused patient care, which shows promising results. In addition, the possibilities of pharmacological intervention are discussed.

Appetite and Cancer-Associated Anorexia: A Review

Appetite is governed by peripheral hormones and central neurotransmitters that act on the arcuate nucleus of the hypothalamus and nucleus tactus solitarius of the brainstem. Cancer anorexia appears to be the result of an imbalance between neuropeptide-Y and pro-opiomelanocortin signals favoring pro-opiomelanocortin. Many of the appetite stimulants redress this imbalance. Most of our understanding of appetite neurophysiology and tumor-associated anorexia is derived from animals and has not been verified in humans. There have been few clinical trials and very little translational research on anorexia despite its prevalence in cancer.