Recent studies of anorexia and appetite stimulation in the cancer patient.

The complications of cachexia are the most common causes of death in cancer patients. Studies have shown that weight loss results not only from the effects of treatment but also from a combination of increased metabolic requirements caused by the tumor and decreased caloric intake by the patient. Understanding the basic metabolic abnormalities that affect food intake has helped medical personnel find ways to lessen if not eliminate the effects of cachexia. Positive results in the management of weight loss and anorexia have been achieved with hydrazine sulfate, metoclopramide, and megestrol acetate, as well as with nonpharmacologic approaches such as attention to the type of food presented and the ambience of the dining site.