What is it about?

Anamorelin hydrochloride was evaluated in Japanese patients with advanced gastrointestinal cancer and cachexia in a non-randomized single-arm study. The proportion of patients who responded to treatment was 63.3%, with a least square mean ± SE change in lean body mass and body weight from baseline of 1.89 ± 0.36 kg and 1.41 ± 0.61 kg, respectively. Appetite-related questions on the QoL questionnaire showed that anamorelin improved appetite. Adverse events occurred in 79.6% of patients, and the most common treatment-related adverse events were increased γ-glutamyl transpeptidase (8.2%), diabetes mellitus (6.1%), hyperglycemia (6.1%), and prolonged QRS complex (6.1%).

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Why is it important?

We showed a positive effect of anamorelin on lean body mass, body weight, and anorexia that was comparable to the previous data in patients with lung cancer.

Perspectives

Patients who have advanced gastrointestinal cancer are more prone to weight loss because of impaired food intake and absorption of nutrients compared with patients with lung cancer. Anamorelin may be considered an important treatment option for cancer cachexia in combination with other modalities, including nutritional support, rehabilitation and exercise, and treatment to suppress inflammatory processes.

MD. PhD. Tateaki Naito
Shizuoka Cancer Center

Read the Original

This page is a summary of: A multicenter, open‐label, single‐arm study of anamorelin (ONO‐7643) in advanced gastrointestinal cancer patients with cancer cachexia, Cancer, August 2019, Wiley,
DOI: 10.1002/cncr.32406.
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