Ghrelin Injections Are Safe and May Help Cancer Patients With Severe Weight Loss
Subcutaneous ghrelin injections were safe and well-tolerated in advanced cancer patients with cachexia, with positive effects on nutritional intake and patient-reported experiences despite the small study size.
Quick Facts
What This Study Found
Subcutaneous ghrelin was safe without dose-limiting toxicity in advanced cancer cachexia patients, with positive effects on nutritional intake and subjective experience despite variable appetite responses.
Key Numbers
6 treated; 32 mcg/kg starting dose; 50% escalation; 88-day median survival; FAACT score decreased 6.8 points
How They Did This
Dose-finding Phase I/II trial with subcutaneous natural ghrelin in advanced cancer patients with cachexia. Starting dose 32 μg/kg with 50% escalations. Self-injection twice daily for 4-day periods. Measurements: safety, nutritional intake, appetite scores, muscle mass, and strength over 6 weeks.
Why This Research Matters
Cancer cachexia affects up to 80% of advanced cancer patients and contributes to mortality. Finding safe, effective treatments to maintain nutrition and muscle mass could improve both quality of life and survival outcomes.
The Bigger Picture
Ghrelin, the body's hunger hormone, has long been studied as a potential treatment for cachexia. This small trial adds to the evidence that exogenous ghrelin is safe and tolerable, but highlights the complexity of treating a multifactorial syndrome like cancer cachexia where appetite alone isn't the only driver of weight loss.
What This Study Doesn't Tell Us
Very small sample size (n=6 treated). All treated patients were male. Complex intervention design with multiple dose levels and washout periods. High attrition (only 3 completed the study). No control group.
Questions This Raises
- ?What is the optimal ghrelin dose and schedule for sustained cachexia benefit?
- ?Could ghrelin be combined with other interventions for greater effect on muscle mass?
- ?Why do some patients respond to ghrelin while others show variable results?
Trust & Context
- Key Stat:
- Safe with no dose-limiting toxicity In advanced cancer patients with cachexia, starting at 32 μg/kg subcutaneous
- Evidence Grade:
- Small, early-phase dose-finding study (n=6 treated). Provides safety data but limited efficacy evidence due to small sample and no control group.
- Study Age:
- Published in 2021, contributing to ongoing investigation of ghrelin for cancer cachexia management.
- Original Title:
- Natural ghrelin in advanced cancer patients with cachexia, a case series.
- Published In:
- Journal of cachexia, sarcopenia and muscle, 12(2), 506-516 (2021)
- Authors:
- Blum, David, de Wolf-Linder, Susanne, Oberholzer, Rolf, Brändle, Michael, Hundsberger, Thomas, Strasser, Florian
- Database ID:
- RPEP-05288
Evidence Hierarchy
Frequently Asked Questions
What is cancer cachexia and why is it so serious?
Cancer cachexia is a syndrome of severe involuntary weight loss, muscle wasting, and fatigue that affects up to 80% of advanced cancer patients. It significantly reduces quality of life and contributes to mortality, and currently has no fully effective treatment.
How does ghrelin help with cancer-related weight loss?
Ghrelin is the body's natural hunger hormone. Injecting additional ghrelin can stimulate appetite and food intake. In this trial, it improved nutritional intake and patients reported positive experiences, though appetite responses varied between individuals.
Read More on RethinkPeptides
Cite This Study
https://rethinkpeptides.com/research/RPEP-05288APA
Blum, David; de Wolf-Linder, Susanne; Oberholzer, Rolf; Brändle, Michael; Hundsberger, Thomas; Strasser, Florian. (2021). Natural ghrelin in advanced cancer patients with cachexia, a case series.. Journal of cachexia, sarcopenia and muscle, 12(2), 506-516. https://doi.org/10.1002/jcsm.12659
MLA
Blum, David, et al. "Natural ghrelin in advanced cancer patients with cachexia, a case series.." Journal of cachexia, 2021. https://doi.org/10.1002/jcsm.12659
RethinkPeptides
RethinkPeptides Research Database. "Natural ghrelin in advanced cancer patients with cachexia, a..." RPEP-05288. Retrieved from https://rethinkpeptides.com/research/blum-2021-natural-ghrelin-in-advanced
Access the Original Study
Study data sourced from PubMed, a service of the U.S. National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health.
This study breakdown was produced by the RethinkPeptides research team. We analyze and report published research findings without making health recommendations. All interpretations are based solely on the published abstract and study data.