Natural ghrelin in advanced cancer patients with cachexia : a case series

Blum, David; de Wolf-Linder, Susanne; Oberholzer, Rolf; Brändle, Michael; Hundsberger, Thomas; Strasser, Florian

doi:10.1002/jcsm.12659

Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://doi.org/10.21256/zhaw-21359

Publication type:	Article in scientific journal
Type of review:	Peer review (publication)
Title:	Natural ghrelin in advanced cancer patients with cachexia : a case series
Authors:	Blum, David de Wolf-Linder, Susanne Oberholzer, Rolf Brändle, Michael Hundsberger, Thomas Strasser, Florian
et. al:	No
DOI:	10.1002/jcsm.12659 10.21256/zhaw-21359
Published in:	Journal of Cachexia, Sarcopenia and Muscle
Volume(Issue):	12
Issue:	2
Page(s):	506
Pages to:	516
Issue Date:	15-Jan-2021
Publisher / Ed. Institution:	Wiley
ISSN:	2190-5991 2190-6009
Language:	English
Subjects:	Appetite; Cancer cachexia; Ghrelin; Muscle mass
Subject (DDC):	616: Internal medicine and diseases
Abstract:	Background: Natural ghrelin, a peptide growth hormone secretagogue, has a therapeutic potential in cachexia. We designed a dose‐finding trial of subcutaneous natural ghrelin to improve nutritional intake (NI) in advanced cancer patients. Methods: Advanced cancer patients with cachexia management (symptom management, physiotherapy, nutritional, and psychosocial support) started with ghrelin at 32 μg/kg body weight, followed by 50% dose increases. Patients self‐injected ghrelin twice daily for 4 days followed by a wash‐out period. After reaching the primary endpoint, maximal NI (minimal dose for maximal NI), a maintenance period followed during which patients injected 10 doses of ghrelin per week. Safety parameters, NI, and cachexia outcomes (symptoms, narratives, muscle mass, and strength) were measured over 6 weeks. Results: Ten patients with metastatic solid tumours were included, and six (100% male, mean age 61.8 ± 8.5 SD) received ghrelin. Minimal dose for maximal NI was reached in four patients. Three patients reached the end‐of study visit. Ghrelin was well tolerated with variable results on appetite and eating‐related symptoms but a positive effect in the narratives. Mean Functional Assessment of Appetite & Cachexia Therapy score was 6.8 points lower at final measurement compared with baseline, t(5) = 5.98, P < .01. Muscle mass was stable in two patients and increased in one patient, and muscle strength was stable in three patients. Subjective tolerability was high. Patients showed a fluctuating trajectory, and median survival was 88 days (51–412 days). Conclusions: Ghrelin was safe in advanced patients with cancer cachexia without dose‐limiting toxicity and well tolerated. The intervention was very complex, and the number of patients included was small. There was a positive effect on nutritional intake and patient narratives.
URI:	https://digitalcollection.zhaw.ch/handle/11475/21359
Fulltext version:	Published version
License (according to publishing contract):	CC BY 4.0: Attribution 4.0 International
Departement:	School of Health Sciences
Organisational Unit:	Institute of Nursing (IPF)
Appears in collections:	Publikationen Gesundheit

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Blum, D., de Wolf-Linder, S., Oberholzer, R., Brändle, M., Hundsberger, T., & Strasser, F. (2021). Natural ghrelin in advanced cancer patients with cachexia : a case series. Journal of Cachexia, Sarcopenia and Muscle, 12(2), 506–516. https://doi.org/10.1002/jcsm.12659

Blum, D. et al. (2021) ‘Natural ghrelin in advanced cancer patients with cachexia : a case series’, Journal of Cachexia, Sarcopenia and Muscle, 12(2), pp. 506–516. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1002/jcsm.12659.

D. Blum, S. de Wolf-Linder, R. Oberholzer, M. Brändle, T. Hundsberger, and F. Strasser, “Natural ghrelin in advanced cancer patients with cachexia : a case series,” Journal of Cachexia, Sarcopenia and Muscle, vol. 12, no. 2, pp. 506–516, Jan. 2021, doi: 10.1002/jcsm.12659.

BLUM, David, Susanne DE WOLF-LINDER, Rolf OBERHOLZER, Michael BRÄNDLE, Thomas HUNDSBERGER und Florian STRASSER, 2021. Natural ghrelin in advanced cancer patients with cachexia : a case series. Journal of Cachexia, Sarcopenia and Muscle. 15 Januar 2021. Bd. 12, Nr. 2, S. 506–516. DOI 10.1002/jcsm.12659

Blum, David, Susanne de Wolf-Linder, Rolf Oberholzer, Michael Brändle, Thomas Hundsberger, and Florian Strasser. 2021. “Natural Ghrelin in Advanced Cancer Patients with Cachexia : A Case Series.” Journal of Cachexia, Sarcopenia and Muscle 12 (2): 506–16. https://doi.org/10.1002/jcsm.12659.

Blum, David, et al. “Natural Ghrelin in Advanced Cancer Patients with Cachexia : A Case Series.” Journal of Cachexia, Sarcopenia and Muscle, vol. 12, no. 2, Jan. 2021, pp. 506–16, https://doi.org/10.1002/jcsm.12659.