Olanzapine for Cancer Related Anorexia-cachexia Syndrome

Randomized Placebo-controlled Study of Olanzapine for Cancer Related Anorexia-cachexia Syndrome

Cancer anorexia-cachexia syndrome is one of the common conditions in cancer patients. Olanzapine has been demonstrated to reduce chemotherapy-induced anorexia. However, there is scarce information regarding olanzapine as a treatment of cancer anorexia among patients who does not receive chemotherapy. Therefore, this randomized controlled trial aims to evaluate the efficacy of olanzapine to lessen cancer cachexia-anorexia syndrome.

Inclusion Criteria:

• pathologically or cytologically metastatic or locally advanced cancer
• anorexia and >=5% weight loss during the past 6 months or anorexia with numerical scale of anorexia >=5
• ECOG performance status 0-3
• able to complete questionaire and able to swallow pills

Exclusion Criteria:

• receiving chemotherapy or anti-cancer systemic therapy
• life expectancy longer than 1 month
• received radiotherapy at head/neck or thoracic or upper abdomen in the past 2 weeks
• surgery within 4 weeks
• pregnancy
• serum bilirubin > 2 mg/dl or serum Cr > 2 mg/dl
• current use of olanzapine or other antipsychotic drug
• known cardiac arrhythmia, uncontrolled brain metastasis, history of seizure or acute coronary event in the past 6 months