Nutritional and Metabolic Diseases

All Conditions

Symptoms and General Pathology

Wasting Syndrome

Cachexia

Syndrome

Body Weight

Weight Loss

Body Weight Changes

Thinness

Metabolic Diseases

Nutrition Disorders

Other Dietary Supplements

All Drugs and Chemicals

Omega 3 Fatty Acid

Participants will receive Lovaza at a dose of 4 g for 6 weeks. Participants will be examined at six weeks for change in protein status as indicated by change in morphological (Height, weight, body mass index, body composition, lean body mass, body fat %), and biochemical (serum prealbumin) markers of protein status and immunological cytokines (Il-6, TNF- α) markers implicated in cancer cachexia. At baseline, 3 and 6 weeks, participants will undergo interviews and laboratory analysis for determining compliance and treatment-related toxicity.

Eicosapentaenoic Acid

Nagi Kumar, Ph.D.

The data collected through this pilot study will allow us to increase our understanding of cancer cachexia and the effect of Eicosapentaenoic Acid (EPA) on cancer cachexia. Our long-term goal is to improve nutritional treatment and reduce illness in the cancer patient population.

People who have cancer can get what is called cancer cachexia (CC). The symptoms of CC include getting full quickly when eating (early satiety), loss of appetite, weakness resulting in weight loss and loss of lean body mass. Even a weight loss of 5% in cancer patients reflects poor health, hospitalization, and a higher rate of illness. Research shows that the elderly are at higher risk for deficiency of vitamins and trace minerals. Other pre-existing chronic diseases and drug therapies in this population may increase the needs of certain nutrients. Recent studies have also shown that advanced malnutrition is much more difficult to treat in the elderly than in younger adults, and the consequences of failure to treat it delays recovery and can decrease function and quality of life. At this time, the ways to treat CC include giving medications to increase appetite and giving nutritional supplements that are high in calories and protein.

Recent studies have shown that certain types of fats that are present in fish, walnuts and other foods that we eat called Eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) may help with weight gain, especially gain in muscle and improve quality of life in patients with pancreatic cancer. However, EPA has never been studied in prevention of cancer cachexia in cancer patients showing early signs of weight loss. Based on these early, small studies, it is clear that we need to study if and how EPA can prevent loss of muscle and weight in cancer patients and prevent this from becoming worse.

A Pilot Study of Eicosapentaenoic Acid (EPA) in Patients With Cancer Cachexia

Change in protein status at 6 weeks after initial diagnosis of weight loss of \>5% body weight as indicated by morphological, biochemical and immunological intermediate biomarkers.

There is no expected range for "normal" activity since there is not currently a clinical indication for these molecular markers. Comparison of ranges can be made between groups (such as those that received treatment and not). This was an exploration of potential in the pilot study and further research is indicated to better understand the metabolic abnormalities observed in cancer cachexia as well as potential benefits of using agents such as EPA.

GlaxoSmithKline

H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute

Participants to receive Lovaza at a dose of 4 g for 6 weeks.

Eicosapentaenoic Acid (Lovaza)

Age, Categorical

Sex: Female, Male

United States

Region of Enrollment

This was a Pilot Supportive Care Intervention.

Nagi Kumar, Ph.D., via Moffitt Cancer Center

Change in Serum Albumin

Participants with available pre and post-treatment serum samples.

Study title	NCT ID	Conditions	Interventions	Eligibility	Organization	Link
A Pilot Study of Eicosapentaenoic Acid (EPA) in Patients With Cancer Cachexia	NCT00815685	Cancer Cachexia	Eicosapentaenoi...	25 Years - 80 Years	H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute
A Pilot Study of Eicosapentaenoic Acid (EPA) in Patients With Cancer Cachexia	NCT00815685	Cancer Cachexia	Eicosapentaenoi...	25 Years - 80 Years	H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute

Spots Global Cancer Trial Database for molecular pathogenesis