Appetite stimulants for patients with cancer: current evidence for clinical practice

Abstract The incidence of neoplastic diseases has increased worldwide, with an estimated global burden of 19.3 million incident cases and 10 million deaths in 2020—a considerable increase compared with 9.6 million deaths in 2018. One of the most prevalent problems faced by patients with cancer and t...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Nutrition reviews 2022-03, Vol.80 (4), p.857-873
Main Authors: Turcott, Jenny G, Zatarain-Barrón, Zyanya Lucia, Cárdenas Fernández, Daniela, Castañares Bolaños, Diana Tamara, Arrieta, Oscar
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Anorexia - drug therapy
Anorexia - etiology
Appetite
Appetite Stimulants - pharmacology
Appetite Stimulants - therapeutic use
Cachexia - drug therapy
Cachexia - etiology
Humans
Malnutrition - complications
Malnutrition - drug therapy
Neoplasms - complications
Neoplasms - drug therapy
Neoplasms - epidemiology
Quality of Life
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Summary:Abstract The incidence of neoplastic diseases has increased worldwide, with an estimated global burden of 19.3 million incident cases and 10 million deaths in 2020—a considerable increase compared with 9.6 million deaths in 2018. One of the most prevalent problems faced by patients with cancer and their physicians is malnutrition. It is estimated that patients with cancer have important nutritional alterations in 25% to 70% of cases, which directly affects many spheres of patient care and well-being, including quality of life, treatment toxicity, and survival outcomes. Despite the overwhelming need to address this pressing issue, current evidence in terms of pharmacologic interventions for cancer-related anorexia remains inconclusive, and there is no current standard of care for patients with cancer-related anorexia. Nonetheless, international guidelines recommend promoting anabolism through nutritional, physical, and pharmacologic therapies. In this review, the available information is summarized regarding pharmacologic therapies to treat cancer-related anorexia and findings are highlighted from a clinical stance.
ISSN:0029-6643
1753-4887
DOI:10.1093/nutrit/nuab045