Frontiers in Nutrition (Aug 2021)

Effect of Megestrol Acetate Combined With Oral Nutrition Supplement in Malnourished Lung Cancer Patients: A Single-Center Prospective Cohort Study

  • Baojun Duan,
  • Baojun Duan,
  • Baojun Duan,
  • Yan Zhang,
  • Xi Wang,
  • Yulian Zhang,
  • Yinyin Hou,
  • Jun Bai,
  • Linhua Liu,
  • Yaohua Chen,
  • Rong Zhang,
  • Ronghui Jin,
  • Li He,
  • Yansong Pu

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3389/fnut.2021.654194
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 8

Abstract

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Background: The optimal treatment of cancer-related malnutrition remains unknown. A single-center prospective cohort study was performed to compare the efficacy of megestrol acetate (MA) combined with oral nutrition supplement (ONS) and MA alone for the treatment of lung cancer-related malnutrition.Methods: 76 eligible patients were prospectively enrolled in two arms, Arm 1 patients (n = 40, 52.6%) received MA 160 mg/d, and Arm 2 patients (n = 36, 47.4%) received MA 160 mg/d combined with ONS 55.8 g/t.i.d, all orally. All patients received anticancer therapy. Treatment duration was 3 months. The primary endpoints were improvements in body mass index (BMI) and Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) score. Secondary endpoints were assessed by appetite, mid-upper arm circumference (MAC), serum pre-albumin levels, and serum albumin levels.Results: Baseline levels were comparable between Arm 1 and Arm 2 patients. Compared with Arm 1, primary endpoints (BMI, P = 0.018; ECOG, P = 0.022) and secondary endpoints (MAC, P = 0.025; serum pre-albumin, P = 0.043; and serum albumin, P = 0.034) were improved significantly after treatment in Arm 2. While toxicity was negligible and comparable between Arm 1 and Arm 2.Conclusion: MA combined with ONS may be an effective and safe treatment option for lung cancer-related malnutrition patients.Clinical Trial Registration:www.clinicaltrials.gov, identifier ChiCTR2100049007.

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