Medroxyprogesterone acetate and cancer cachexia: interleukin-6 involvement

Cancer cachexia is a significant problem facing both patients and physicians. Many interventions have been tried in an attempt to remedy undernutrition in cancer patients. However, there is no convincing evidence that enteral/parenteral nutrition or the use of anabolic steroids is of any benefit in...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Breast cancer (Tokyo, Japan) Japan), 2000, Vol.7 (2), p.130-135
Main Authors: Yamashita, J I, Ogawa, M
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Cachexia - blood
Cachexia - diet therapy
Female
Humans
Interleukin-6 - blood
Interleukin-6 - physiology
Medroxyprogesterone Acetate - pharmacology
Medroxyprogesterone Acetate - therapeutic use
Neoplasms - complications
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Summary:Cancer cachexia is a significant problem facing both patients and physicians. Many interventions have been tried in an attempt to remedy undernutrition in cancer patients. However, there is no convincing evidence that enteral/parenteral nutrition or the use of anabolic steroids is of any benefit in patients with cachexia. A recent prospective study revealed that oral medroxyprogesterone acetate (MPA) treatment reduces serum levels of interleukin (IL)-6, an important mediator of cancer cachexia, in patients with metastatic breast carcinoma regardless of response to the therapy. A decrease in serum IL-6 levels was well associated with subjective improvement in patients with metastatic breast carcinoma. Furthermore, clinically attainable concentrations of MPA can inhibit the growth of some human pancreatic carcinoma cells by inducing apoptosis in association with the phosphorylation of bcl-2. These results suggest that this agent may contribute to improved quality of life in patients with various cancers.
ISSN:1340-6868
1880-4233
DOI:10.1007/BF02967444