[Synthetic progestational hormones in the treatment of neoplastic cachexia]

Cachexia frequently occurs in cancer patients. Indeed, this syndrome affects about 50% of hospitalized patients. This clinical entity may be described by different characteristics: appetite and weight loss, several metabolic abnormalities, possible influence of cytokines, poor prognosis. During the last decade, several papers have shown the beneficial activity of medroxyprogesterone acetate (MPA) and megestrol acetate (MA) in cancer cachexia. Seven randomized trials emphasized their activity on patients weight and appetite. Megestrol acetate doses in those trials are different: from 160 mg/24 h to 1600 mg/24 h; this drug is similar to MPA in terms of clinical and pharmacological properties. Iatrogenic toxicity due to MA and MPA is mild, but numerous questions still subsist: optimal date of introduction during the course of the disease, posology, treatment duration and its impact on quality of life of cancer patients.