Supportive use of megestrol acetate in patients with head and neck cancer during radio(chemo)therapy.

To study the supportive effect of megestrol acetate during intensive combined modality treatment, a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled study was performed in patients with head and neck cancer. The patients received either 160 mg of megestrol acetate daily or placebo during radio(chemo)therapy and for up to 6 weeks thereafter. The nutritional status as measured by anthropometric and biochemical parameters and the subjective quality of life were assessed prior to therapy, at weeks 1, 4 and 6 of radiotherapy and 12 and 18 weeks from the start of therapy. 61 of 64 patients were evaluable. In the control group (n = 30), the nutritional parameters deteriorated during therapy and were fully restored during follow-up. By contrast, the patients treated with megestrol acetate (n = 31) could maintain their baseline values. The difference between the groups was most pronounced in patients taking food per mouth (weight loss during treatment: control group: 4.1 kg; megestrol acetate group: 0.8 kg, P = 0.0004), but was not significant in patients fed via percutaneous endoscopically guided gastrostomy (PEG). Subjective quality of life remained constant in the megestrol acetate group while it decreased in the control group. However, differences were not statistically significant. Megestrol acetate prevents further deterioration of nutritional status during radio(chemo)therapy and may have an impact on subjective quality of life.