Effect of multimodal intervention care on cachexia in patients with advanced cancer compared to conventional management (MIRACLE): An open-label, phase 2 trial.
Authors: Chi Hoon Maeng, Bo-Hyung Kim, Jinmann Chon, Won Sub Kang, Kyounglan Kang, Mihye Woo, Il Ki Hong, Junhee Lee, Kil Yeon Lee
Journal: Journal of Clinical Oncology (2021)

TPS12134 Background: Cancer Cachexia (CC) is a multi-factorial process characterized by progressive weight loss, muscle mass and fat tissue wasting, and adversely affecting the quality of life and survival in patients with advanced stage of cancer. CC has a complex and multi-factorial pathophysiology, and there is no established standard treatment. Once it occurs, it is often irreversible and also difficult to suppress the its progression with any single treatment modality. We are conducting an open-label, parallel, randomized phase 2 trial to investigate the effect on preventing or alleviating cancer cachexia and safety of a multi-modal intervention including anti-inflammation, omega-3-fatty acids, nutritional supplement with counselling, physical exercise, psychiatric intervention as well as bojungikki-tang, which mediates immune-modulation and reverse inflammation-related chronic consumptive wasting condition as a complementary and alternative medicine compared to patients receiving best supportive care. Methods: Eligible criteria included patients with recurrent or metastatic gastrointestinal (gastric, colorectal and pancreaticobiliary) as well as lung cancer undergoing active palliative chemotherapy. Patients who have already developed refractory cachexia (ie, low performance status, difficult to take medications orally or visit the hospital to exercise) are excluded. Patients are randomized into experimental arm (Multi-modal intervention care: MIC) versus control arm (Conventional Palliative Care, CPC). MIC are comprised of 1) daily oral medications; ibuprofen 400 mg three times a day, omega-3-fatty acid 1 g twice a day, Bojungikki-tang 3.75g twice a day, oral nutritional supplement (HAMONILAN SOLN) 200 ml twice a day, and 2) clinical interventions; weekly physical exercise (60 minutes per visit), psychiatric assessment on every other week, and nutritional counselling total four times during the study period. CPC included basic nutritional counselling for two times provided by National Health Insurance Service, and megestrol acetate as needed (ie, anorexia ≥ Grade 2). All interventions were provided during 12 weeks per subject. Co-primary outcomes are change of total lean body mass and handgrip strength from the baseline. Secondary outcomes included change of fat mass and total body mass, lean body mass, Functional Assessment of Anorexia/Cachexia Treatment (FAACT) score, quality of life assessed by EORTC QLQ-C30, Spleen Qi Deficiency questionnaire (SQDQ), and overall survival. Total 112 patients will be assigned in the two arms (56 in each group). We have started the study in October 2020. At the time of submission, 26 patients were enrolled. Planned period of enrollment is 18 months. Clinical trial information: Clinical Research information Service, CRIS (KCT0004967). Clinical trial information: KCT0004967.