A phase II study with antioxidants, both in the diet an supplemented, pharmaco-nutritional support, progestagen and anti-COX-2 showing efficacy and safety in patients with cancer-related anorexia-cachexia and oxidative stress

Cancer-related anorexia-cachexia syndrome (CACS) is a complex syndrome characterised by progressive weight loss with depletion of host reserves of skeletal muscle and, to a lesser extent, adipose tissue, anorexia, reduced food intake, poor performance status and quality of life that often precedes death [1]. At the time of diagnosis, 80% of patients with upper gastrointestinal cancers and 60% with lung cancer have already experienced substantial weight loss [2]. The prevalence of cachexia increases from 50 to > 80% before death and in > 20% cachexia is the main cause of death [2]. CACS results from the interaction of the host and the tumour. However, its nature is incompletely understood [3] [6], including the dynamics of host response (activation of systemic inflammatory response, metabolic, immune and neuroendocrine changes) and those tumour characteristics or tumour-derived products that influence expression of the syndrome (e.g. proteolysis-inducing factor, PIF).