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

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.

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Key information

Conditions

Cachexia Body Weight Body Weight Changes Fatigue Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms Signs and Symptoms Thinness Unspecified Adult Solid Tumor, Protocol Specific Weight Loss

Age range

18 year and older

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Phase 2

Primary location

University of Arkansas - Department of Geriatrics, North Little Rock, Arkansas, United States

About this study

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.

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

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

Treatment and study plan

Megestrol acetate

Drug

physical therapy

Procedure

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Northwestern University

Other

Collaborators

National Cancer Institute (NCI)

Registry information

Official study title

Phase II Trial of Progressive Resistance Training With Megestrol Acetate for the Treatment of Cancer-Related Weight Loss

Important dates

Study start: 2000
Primary completion: 2003
Study completion: 2003
First posted: Mar 3, 2004
Registry last updated: May 30, 2012

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

Published trials that share one or more normalized conditions with this study.

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