Drugs in development for treatment of patients with cancer-related anorexia and cachexia syndrome.

ABSTRACT: Cancer-related anorexia and cachexia syndrome (CACS) is a complex multifactorial condition, with loss of lean body mass, chronic inflammation, severe metabolic derangements, reduced food intake, reduced physical activity, and poor quality of life as key symptoms. Cachexia recognizes different phases or stages, moving from precachexia through overt cachexia to advanced or refractory cachexia. The purpose of this review is to describe currently effective approaches for the treatment of cachexia, moving forward to drugs and treatments already shown to be effective but needing further clinical trials to confirm their efficacy. We then introduce novel promising investigational drugs and approaches which, based on a strong rationale from the most recent data on the molecular targets/pathways dri

SUBMITTER: Mantovani G 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3746778 | biostudies-literature | 2013

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature