RCT: Melatonin does not improve appetite or other symptoms in patients with advanced cancer and cachexia

Source: JCO Area: News The Journal of Clinical Oncology has featured a study evaluating the safety and efficacy of melatonin for appetite improvement in patients with cancer cachexia.   The randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, 28-day trial involved patients with advanced lung or gastrointestinal cancer (GI) cancer, with appetite scores ? 4 on a 0 to 10 scale (10 = worst appetite), and a history of weight loss ? 5%. Assessments included weight, symptoms by the Edmonton Symptom Assessment Scale, and quality of life by the Functional Assessment of Anorexia/Cachexia Therapy (FAACT) questionnaire.   The researchers reported that after an interim analysis of 48 patients, the study was closed for futility - there were no statistically significant differences between groups for appetite (P = 0.78) or other symptoms, weight (P = 0.17), FAACT score (P = 0.95), toxicity, or survival from baseline to day 28.   The researchers conclude that in cachectic patients with advanced ...
Source: NeLM - News - Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Source Type: news