Affiliation:
1. Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Tokyo Women’s Medical University Hospital, Tokyo
2. National Center for Geriatrics and Gerontology, Aichi
3. Pharmacological Department of Herbal Medicine, Kagoshima University Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Kagoshima, Japan
Abstract
Purpose of review
Anamorelin was approved for production and marketing in Japan on 22 January 2021 for cancer cachexia in non-small-cell lung cancer, gastric cancer, pancreatic cancer, and colorectal cancer. The authors describe the updates of anamorelin for cancer cachexia in Japan.
Recent findings
Recent evidence showed that anamorelin improved lean body mass, body weight, and appetite in patients with cancer cachexia in clinical practice. Anamorelin does not increase body weight in the severe-weight-loss group in cachectic patients with pancreatic cancer. Several case reports showed that anamorelin can cause cardiac adverse drug reactions. Among the cardiac adverse reactions, fatal arrhythmias should be monitored carefully even if it is the first dose. Anamorelin combined with nutrition, physical activity, and exercise may be more useful than anamorelin alone for treating cancer cachexia. An interim analysis from post-marketing all-case surveillance was performed; however, details have not yet been published. When anamorelin cannot be used for cancer cachexia, Kampo medicines can be considered as an option.
Summary
Anamorelin has changed the clinical practice of cancer cachexia in Japan. The authors hope that anamorelin is available for other disease-related cachexia along with appropriate multidisciplinary interventions.
Publisher
Ovid Technologies (Wolters Kluwer Health)
Subject
Critical Care and Intensive Care Medicine,Oncology (nursing),Oncology,General Medicine
Cited by
6 articles.
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