Active clinical trials for "Cachexia"

The proposed study is aimed at examining mitochondrial function as a potential target of action of vitamin D on muscle metabolism, size, and strength in preventing the progression of cachexia. This is the first clinical trial designed to understand the effects of vitamin D on muscle metabolic dynamics driving dysfunction in cachectic muscle. Our preliminary data suggest that vitamin D promotes lipid partitioning and muscle metabolic function, which the investigators hypothesize, will mitigate cachexia via improved muscle health and quality that translates into reduced fatigue, and improved patient resilience to multimodal cancer therapy.

Cachexia associated with cancer is a grave and most of the time irreversible common situation. It seems independent from the size of the tumor or from its metastatic character. The consequences for the management of the patient are major and exceed widely the frame of the nutrition. Undernutrition of patients with cancer is described by a decrease of the energy contributions and a loss of muscular and fat mass, leading to a progressive functional deficiency which can go to the cachectic state. Actually, clinical criteria are proposed allowing to characterize the state of pre-cachexia but it remain too indistinct to allow an early and efficient screening and set up effective measures of prevention of the cachexia, to avoid the loss of muscular tissue and the cast iron of the energy reserves. It is necessary to have clinical and biological markers with diagnostic aim and forecasts during the situations precedents the appearance of cachexia. The present study will allow calibrating a longitudinal study, which could confirm the value of measures made for the diagnosis of pre-cachexia.

The IRAM MALI impact evaluation uses a cluster-randomized controlled study design to assess the impact of the package of integrated interventions aimed at reducing the longitudinal prevalence of wasting by reducing the incidence of child wasting, enhancing the recovery/cure rate from wasting treatment and reducing the relapse rate determined three months after post-treatment recovery from wasting. These interventions include, among other things, strengthening of community care groups (NASGs); home visits with delivery of behavioral change communication about nutrition, health and hygiene (WASH) for young children; distribution of a preventive nutritional supplement; and improved coverage of wasting screening (family MUAC and community screening), management, adherence to treatment and prevention of relapse in the health district of Koutiala, Sikasso region, Mali, West Africa.

This pilot phase II trial studies how well bovine lactoferrin supplement works in improving taste in patients with cancer receiving chemotherapy. Bovine lactoferrin supplement may help improve the ability to taste food in patients who are receiving chemotherapy.

RATIONALE: Eating a diet that is low in antioxidants may control cachexia in patients with oropharyngeal cancer. PURPOSE: This randomized phase I trial is studying the side effects of a low antioxidant diet in controlling cachexia in patients with oropharyngeal cancer receiving chemotherapy and radiation therapy.

The primary hypothesis for this study is that Myostatin and FHL-1 are important in the development of ICUAP and that changes in activity levels of muscle will modify the levels of expression and activity of these proteins.

Anorexia and cachexia are devastating complications in late-stage cancer patients and is strongly associated with mortality in these patients. Activation of Ghrelin receptors have been demonstrated to stimulate appetite. RC-1291 HCl, by virtue of its ghrelin like activity and Growth Hormone releasing effects may have a dual role in the reversal of cancer induced anorexia and cachexia. This placebo controlled study will evaluate the safety and efficacy of RC-1291 HCl in cancer patients with anorexia and cachexia.

RATIONALE: Drugs used in chemotherapy, such as docetaxel, work in different ways to stop tumor cells from dividing so they stop growing or die. Infliximab may improve cancer-related weight loss, lack of appetite, and fatigue. It is not yet known whether docetaxel is more effective with or without infliximab in preventing weight loss and fatigue in patients with advanced cancer. (Infliximab treatment discontinued effective 10/05/05) PURPOSE: Randomized phase III trial to determine the effectiveness of docetaxel with or without infliximab in preventing weight loss, loss of appetite, and fatigue in patients who have unresectable non-small cell lung cancer. (Infliximab treatment discontinued effective 10/05/05)

RATIONALE: Megestrol and /or an omega-3 fatty acid-enriched nutritional supplement may improve cancer-related weight loss and lack of appetite. It is not yet known whether megestrol alone, an omega-3 fatty acid-enriched nutritional supplement alone, or a combination of both is most effective in treating cancer-related weight loss and loss of appetite. PURPOSE: Randomized phase III trial to compare the effectiveness of megestrol with or without an omega-3 fatty acid-enriched nutritional supplement to that of the omega-3 fatty acid-enriched nutritional supplement alone in treating patients who have cancer-related weight loss and lack of appetite.

RATIONALE: Nutritional supplements may help prevent loss of appetite, weight loss, and fatigue in patients with advanced cancer. PURPOSE: Randomized phase III trial to compare the effectiveness of two nutritional supplements in preventing loss of appetite, weight loss, and fatigue in patients who have stage III or stage IV solid tumors.