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. 1997;76(6):788–790. doi: 10.1038/bjc.1997.463

A pilot study of megestrol acetate and ibuprofen in the treatment of cachexia in gastrointestinal cancer patients.

D C McMillan 1, P O'Gorman 1, K C Fearon 1, C S McArdle 1
PMCID: PMC2228041  PMID: 9310247

Abstract

Advanced gastrointestinal cancer patients with weight loss and an acute-phase response (n = 15) were given megestrol acetate (480 mg day(-1)) and ibuprofen (1200 mg day(-1)) for 6 weeks. Overall, there was an increase in body weight (P = 0.01) and a reduction in C-reactive protein concentrations (P = 0.02), with no change in total body water (P = 0.24) over this period. This regimen may be an effective non-toxic treatment for cancer cachexia and is worthy of further study.

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Selected References

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