white wine or nutritional supplement in improving appetite in patients with cancer

Conditions: Unspecified Adult Solid Tumor, Protocol Specific

Summary: rationale: it is not yet know whether white wine is more effective than a nutritional supplement in improving appetite. purpose: this randomized clinical trial is studying white wine to see how well it works compared with a nutritional supplement in improving appetite in patients with cancer

objectives: i. to compare white wine (arm a) to non-wine nutritional supplement (arm b) for the treatment of cancer-associated anorexia. ii. to evaluate the side effect profile of white wine (arm a). outline: patients are stratified according to primary malignant disease (lung vs gastrointestinal vs other \[specify\]), severity of weight loss (excluding peri-operative weight loss) within the past 2 months (\ = 4.6 kg \[\>= 10 lbs\]), age (\ = 50 years), and planned concurrent chemotherapy or radiation (yes vs no). patients are randomized to 1 of 2 arms. arm a: patients consume white wine with =\< 15% alcohol content twice daily for 3-4 weeks. arm b: patients receive an oral non-wine nutritional supplement (e.g., boost or ensure) twice daily for 3-4 weeks. after completion of study treatment, patients are followed up every 6 months for 2 years.

Eligibility criteria:
inclusion criteria: * incurable, invasive malignancy * able to reliably take the study intervention as prescribed in this protocol * no prior or current history of alcoholism * alert and mentally competent * physician estimates that patient has lost \>= 5 pounds (2.3 kg) in weight =\< 2 months (excluding peri-operative weight loss; documented weight loss not required) and/or have estimated caloric intake of \< 20 cal/kg daily (no further documentation necessary other than an affirmative answer to this statement) * patient perceives loss of appetite and/or weight as a problem; note: documentation not necessary * concurrent chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy are permitted * negative pregnancy test done =\< 7 days prior to registration, for women of childbearing potential only * willingness to abstain completely from alcohol for 4 weeks, except as prescribed in this trial; note: patients assigned to the non-wine nutritional supplement (arm b) must be willing to abstain from wine and other alcoholic beverages for 3-4 weeks; patients assigned to the white wine (arm a) are allowed to take a nutritional supplement, such as ensure or boost if they choose to * ability to complete questionnaire(s) by themselves or with assistance * willingness to return to mccrc enrolling institution for follow-up * patients in whom the use of progestational agents is anticipated are not permitted to be on this study * short-term use of dexamethasone around days of intravenous chemotherapy is allowed for protection against emesis, but dexamethasone for appetite stimulation is not permitted exclusion criteria: * receiving tube feedings or parenteral nutrition * current (=\< 1 month) or planned treatment with adrenal corticosteroids (short-term use of dexamethasone around days of chemotherapy is allowed for protection against emesis), androgens, or progestational agents; exception: inhalant, topical, or optical steroid use is permissible * progestational agent (such as megestrol acetate) planned to be initiated over the next 30 days; note: patients who have been on megestrol acetate for \> 1 month and are still on it and otherwise meet the eligibility criteria are permitted to enroll on this protocol and remain on megestrol acetate * known mechanical obstruction of the alimentary tract, malabsorption, or intractable vomiting (\> 5 episodes/week) * symptomatic or untreated brain metastases * any of the following as this regimen may be harmful to a developing fetus or nursing child: pregnant women, nursing women, and men or women of childbearing potential who are unwilling to employ adequate contraception