Megestrol acetate as the supportive treatment of Thai patients with advanced cancer

We studied the effect of the standard oral dose (160 mg/d) of megestrol acetate on the weight gain of 115 advanced cancer patients. All were underweight and were receiving only supportive or symptomatic care. The median treatment time was 74 weeks (range: 4 weeks to 2 years). The mean body weight gain of all patients was 4.84 kg (range: -3 to 18 kg) regardless of the disease status. Weight gain was dependent on the length of treatment time. The performance status after therapy also shifted to the better status with significant statistical difference. All patients felt an increase of appetite and also had an improved sense of well-being. No serious side-effects of the treatment were noted in this study.