Standards, Options and Recommendations for the use of appetite stimulants in oncology (2000)

Abstract

Anorexia and cachexia are serious complications frequently found in patients with cancer (Bozetti, 1995; Donnelly and Walsh, 1995). They are present in about 10% of patients at the time of diagnosis (Bozetti et al, 1989). Multiple factors are involved in their aetiology (Puccio and Nathanson, 1997). The resultant malnutrition is associated with a poorer response to anticancer treatment and an impaired quality of life (Holmes and Dickerson, 1987; Bozetti, 1995; De Conno et al, 1998). Many clinical trials have been undertaken to evaluate the efficacy of drugs thought to be appetite stimulants.