The Role of Ghrelin in Cancer Cachexia

Stopped early · Phase 2 · Has a placebo group

Conditions studied: Cancer Cachexia

In brief

Cancer is often coupled with a condition called cachexia. In this condition, individuals continue to lose weight and lean body mass, which means their muscles are getting smaller and weaker. Studies have shown that cancer patients who are losing weight often are responding poorly to chemotherapy, are at greater risk of infection and have a reduced life expectancy. Also, people may not want to eat. To date, there are no approved treatments available for this condition. This study is going to study the benefits of the use of the study drug, Anamorelin hydrochloride (HCl) in treatment or prevention of cachexia associated with cancer. Studies done before with the study drug have shown that the drug can help the cachectic condition. The purpose of this research study is to evaluate the effectiveness of Anamorelin HCl compared to placebo on body composition (amount of cell mass, fat, muscle, etc.) including measurements of body potassium and nitrogen stores. In addition to the above, the study will also assess the effect of the study drug on handgrip strength, body weight, lean muscle mass, quality of life, appetite \& food intake, certain blood markers, energy expenditure (the amount of energy participants burn), functional performance, safety and tolerability of Anamorelin HCl.

Key facts

Study ID

NCT01505764

Run by

VA Office of Research and Development

People needed

10

Starts

2012-06-01

Expected to finish

2016-03-01

Last updated by the study team

2018-07-17

Who can join

Age: 18 and older. Sex: any. Healthy volunteers: not accepted.

You may qualify if…

• Must have incurable, histologically or cytologically documented Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer or Colo-rectal Cancer.
• Females and males at least 18 years of age.
• Documented histologic or cytologic diagnosis of American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) unresectable Stage III or IV NSCLC and/or stage III or IV colorectal cancer (CRC) (not amenable to curative resection).
• Involuntary weight loss of 5% body weight over a period of 6 months.
• Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status 2 at screening.
• Estimated life expectancy of greater than 4 months at the time of screening.
• Presence and functional use of both hands.
• Able to understand and comply with the procedures of the handgrip strength evaluation.
• If the patient is a woman of childbearing potential or a fertile man, he/she must agree to use an effective form of contraception during the study and for 28 days following the last dose of study medication.
• Willing and able to give signed informed consent and, in the opinion of the Investigator, to comply with the protocol tests and procedures.

You may not qualify if…

• Other forms of lung cancer.
• Women who are pregnant or breast-feeding.
• Obesity.
• Recent active excessive alcohol or illicit drug use current use of marijuana or history of marijuana use over the previous 6 months.
• Severe depression.
• Other causes of cachexia such as:
• Liver disease (AST or ALT > 3x normal levels)
• Renal failure (creatinine > 2.5 mg/dL)
• Untreated thyroid disease
• Class III-IV CHF
• AIDS
• Other cancer diagnosed within the past five years other than non-melanoma skin cancer and prostate cancer
• Severe COPD requiring use of home O2.
• Inability to increase food intake.
• Recent administration of highly emetogenic chemotherapy.
• Known HIV, active hepatitis B or C (with increased LFTs), or active tuberculosis.
• Patients who have received two prior regimens of cytotoxic chemotherapy and are undergoing, or planning to undergo, a third regimen of cytotoxic chemotherapy.
• Currently taking prescription medications intended to increase appetite or treat weight loss; these include, but are not limited to:
• Testosterone
• Androgenic compounds
• Megestrol acetate
• Methylphenidate
• Dronabinol
• Current use of steroids or history of use over the previous 6 months except as pre- and post-medications for chemotherapy administration.
• Patients unable to readily swallow oral tablets.

Where it is running

• Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center, Houston, TX — Houston, Texas, United States

Full record on ClinicalTrials.gov

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