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Phase II study of megestrol acetate in the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma
Author(s) -
CHAO YEE,
CHAN WINGKAI,
WANG SUNSANG,
LAI KWOKHUNG,
CHI CHINWEN,
LIN CHINGYUANG,
CHAN ANN,
WHANGPENG JACQUELINE,
LUI WINGYIU,
LEE SHOUDONG
Publication year - 1997
Publication title -
journal of gastroenterology and hepatology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.214
H-Index - 130
eISSN - 1440-1746
pISSN - 0815-9319
DOI - 10.1111/j.1440-1746.1997.tb00421.x
Subject(s) - megestrol acetate , medicine , megestrol , gastroenterology , appetite , hepatocellular carcinoma , anorexia , progressive disease , surgery , disease , cancer
This is a report of a phase II study of megestrol acetate (160mg/day, orally) in the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Forty‐six patients with advanced HCC were studied and tumour response, changes in appetite, bodyweight, a feeling of well‐being, survival and toxicity were evaluated. Thirty‐two patients were able to be evaluated for response; there were no complete responders or partial responders. Twelve patients (38%) had stable disease and seven of these patients had a minor response with a median size reduction in the tumour of 18%. Twenty patients (62%) had progressive disease. Five of 24 (21%) patients had a median reduction in α‐fetoprotein levels of 59ng/mL. The overall median survival was 4 months (range 1 week to 27 months). Twenty of 32 (62%) patients had an increased appetite and feeling of well‐being. Fourteen of 22 (64%) patients had a median lean bodyweight gain of 5 kg (range 1–14 kg). Toxicities were minimal. Tests for glucocorticoid receptors were performed in 10 patients. Four of five patients who were positive for glucocorticoid receptors in the tumour had a stable disease and all five patients who were negative for glucocorticoid receptors had progressive disease. Megestrol acetate had no significant effect on the tumour in HCC patients. However, megestrol acetate is useful in the palliative management of HCC patients, with improvements in appetite, bodyweight and a feeling of well‐being with minimal side effects. Some patients had stable disease, a minor reduction of tumour size and a prolonged survival after megestrol acetate treatment and this response may be related to the presence of glucocorticoid receptors in the HCC tumour.