Therapeutic potential of anamorelin, a novel, oral ghrelin mimetic, in patients with cancer-related cachexia: a multicenter, randomized, double-blind, crossover, pilot study

What Was Tested

The paper reports a study of Ghrelin and Anamorelin (non-peptide), published as a randomized controlled trial.

Cachexia in cancer adversely affects patients' perception of symptoms, well-being, and response to therapy, and shortens survival.

Who Took Part

The abstract describes 16 patients taking part.

The age groups tagged for this paper are adults and middle-aged adults, both men and women.

This multicenter, double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover study evaluated the effects of anamorelin in 16 patients with different cancers and cachexia.

A 3- to 7-day washout period followed and then treatments were switched.

How the Study Was Run

The researchers set it up as a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover, multicenter and pilot study.

The patients were allocated by chance, so the Ghrelin group and the comparison group should start out alike.

Blinding on both sides kept the patients and researchers unaware of who received Ghrelin.

Some patients received a placebo instead of Ghrelin, giving a reference point.

Each person switched between Ghrelin and the comparison at some point, usually with a gap in between.

Assessments included body weight, appetite, food intake, growth hormone (GH) levels, patient-reported symptom assessments (e.g., the Anderson Symptom Assessment Scale [ASAS] and also an inclusion criterion), and safety.

What Was Measured

PubMed files the paper under topics including Appetite, Appetite Stimulants, Biomarkers, Cachexia, Ghrelin, Growth Hormone and Insulin-Like Growth Factor Binding Protein 3.

What This Means in Plain Language

The paper is a randomized, double-blind and placebo-controlled study of Ghrelin and Anamorelin (non-peptide) in 16 patients.

With fewer than 40 people, it is a small study, so it is better read as an early signal for further research than as a settled answer.

The abstract goes on to report its results in about 8 sentences; this page does not restate them, so read the paper for the findings and their limits.

The publication is from 2013 (Supportive care in cancer : official journal of the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer), a journal based in Germany.

More context: the Ghrelin compound page and the Anamorelin (non-peptide) compound page, all human trials.