Megestrol and Exercise in Treating Patients With Cancer-Related Weight Loss
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The safety and scientific validity of this study is the responsibility of the study sponsor and investigators. Listing a study does not mean it has been evaluated by the U.S. Federal Government. Read our disclaimer for details. |
ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT00004912 |
Recruitment Status :
Completed
First Posted : March 3, 2004
Last Update Posted : May 30, 2012
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RATIONALE: Megestrol helps improve appetite. Exercise may decrease cancer-related fatigue, improve strength, and build up lost muscle tissue. Exercise plus megestrol may be effective treatment for cancer-related weight loss.
PURPOSE: Phase II trial to study the effectiveness of megestrol plus exercise to improve appetite, increase strength, gain lean body tissue, and decrease fatigue in patients who have cancer-related weight loss.
Condition or disease | Intervention/treatment | Phase |
---|---|---|
Cachexia Fatigue Unspecified Adult Solid Tumor, Protocol Specific | Drug: megestrol acetate Procedure: physical therapy | Phase 2 |
OBJECTIVES: I. Determine the effect of megestrol and progressive resistance training on lean body mass, total body weight, functional capacity, appetite, and fatigue in patients with weight loss due to advanced malignancy.
OUTLINE: This is a multicenter study. Patients receive oral megestrol once daily. Patients also begin progressive resistance training 3 days a week. Treatment/exercise continues for 12 weeks in the absence of unacceptable toxicity or progressive weight loss (greater than 5 pounds or 5% or more over first 4 study weeks).
PROJECTED ACCRUAL: A total of 46 patients will be accrued for this study within 1 year.
Study Type : | Interventional (Clinical Trial) |
Primary Purpose: | Supportive Care |
Official Title: | Phase II Trial of Progressive Resistance Training With Megestrol Acetate for the Treatment of Cancer-Related Weight Loss |
Study Start Date : | January 2000 |
Actual Primary Completion Date : | November 2003 |
Actual Study Completion Date : | November 2003 |


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Ages Eligible for Study: | 18 Years and older (Adult, Older Adult) |
Sexes Eligible for Study: | All |
Accepts Healthy Volunteers: | No |
DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: Advanced nonhormone responsive malignancy (metastatic or incurable) Nonvolitional weight loss of between 6-9% of usual body weight over past 6 months OR Decrease of 5 pounds in the past 2 months or less (not greater than 10% loss of usual body weight) No clinical or radiologic evidence of ascites or pleural effusion No lytic bone metastases
PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: Age: Over 18 Performance status: ECOG 0-1 Life expectancy: At least 4 months Hematopoietic: Not specified Hepatic: Not specified Renal: Not specified Cardiovascular: No venous thrombosis No congestive heart failure Other: Able to participate in exercise program for 1 hour, 3 times/week No physical handicap that precludes aerobic or resistance exercise No clinical abnormality that renders exercise a risk At least 1 month since strength training of 3 hours or more per week No physical or functional obstruction to food intake No uncontrolled emesis greater than 5 episodes/week No diarrhea greater than 4 stools/day intractable to antidiarrheal medication No IV hyperalimentation No contraindications to megestrol No dementia or mental incompetence No known AIDS Not pregnant or nursing Negative pregnancy test
PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: Biologic therapy: Not specified Chemotherapy: Not specified Endocrine therapy: No concurrent adrenal steroids (other than for replacement), anabolics, appetite stimulants, or progestational agents Intermittent corticosteroids as antiemetic or premedication for cancer treatment allowed At least 6 weeks since prior megestrol Radiotherapy: Not specified Surgery: Not specified

To learn more about this study, you or your doctor may contact the study research staff using the contact information provided by the sponsor.
Please refer to this study by its ClinicalTrials.gov identifier (NCT number): NCT00004912
United States, Arkansas | |
University of Arkansas - Department of Geriatrics | |
North Little Rock, Arkansas, United States, 72114-1706 | |
United States, California | |
Pacific Shores Medical Group | |
Long Beach, California, United States, 90813 | |
United States, Florida | |
Shands Hospital and Clinics, University of Florida | |
Gainesville, Florida, United States, 32610-100277 | |
United States, Illinois | |
Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center, Northwestern University | |
Chicago, Illinois, United States, 60611-3013 | |
Office of David Cella | |
Evanston, Illinois, United States, 60201 | |
United States, North Carolina | |
Rex Healthcare | |
Raleigh, North Carolina, United States, 27607 |
Study Chair: | Jamie Hayden Von Roenn, MD | Robert H. Lurie Cancer Center |
Responsible Party: | Northwestern University |
ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: | NCT00004912 |
Other Study ID Numbers: |
NU FDA98CC6 NU-98CC6 NCI-G00-1705 |
First Posted: | March 3, 2004 Key Record Dates |
Last Update Posted: | May 30, 2012 |
Last Verified: | May 2012 |
unspecified adult solid tumor, protocol specific fatigue cachexia |
Wasting Syndrome Weight Loss Fatigue Cachexia Body Weight Changes Body Weight Emaciation Metabolic Diseases Nutrition Disorders Megestrol Megestrol Acetate |
Contraceptives, Oral, Synthetic Contraceptives, Oral Contraceptive Agents, Female Contraceptive Agents Reproductive Control Agents Physiological Effects of Drugs Antineoplastic Agents, Hormonal Antineoplastic Agents Appetite Stimulants Central Nervous System Stimulants |