This record provides bibliographic details and links to the original research. An editorial study breakdown is not available.
What the researchers found
Anamorelin administration in patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and cancer anorexia-cachexia syndrome (CACS) leads to increased appetite, body weight, and lean body mass, likely through ghrelin receptor agonism and growth hormone stimulation, with a favorable safety profile observed in clinical studies.
Why it matters
CACS significantly worsens outcomes in cancer patients by causing muscle wasting and weight loss. Anamorelin offers a novel approach by targeting multiple pathways involved in appetite and metabolism, potentially improving quality of life and survival.
How the study worked
This article is a review summarizing preclinical and clinical studies on anamorelin's pharmacodynamics, pharmacokinetics, efficacy, safety, and tolerability in treating CACS in NSCLC patients.
What this study cannot tell us
The review does not specify the strength of evidence or detailed clinical trial data, and long-term safety and efficacy remain unestablished. Effects in cancer types other than NSCLC are also unknown.
Read the original research
Anamorelin hydrochloride for the treatment of cancer-anorexia-cachexia in NSCLC.
Expert opinion on pharmacotherapy, 16(8), 1245-53
Citation
Zhang, Hongjie; Garcia, Jose M. (2015). Anamorelin hydrochloride for the treatment of cancer-anorexia-cachexia in NSCLC.. Expert opinion on pharmacotherapy, 16(8), 1245-53. https://doi.org/10.1517/14656566.2015.1041500