Yennurajalingam, S., Willey, J.S., Palmer, J.L., Allo, J., Del Fabbro, E., Cohen, E.N., . . . Bruera, E. (2012). The role of thalidomide and placebo for the treatment of cancer-related anorexia-cachexia symptoms: Results of a double-blind placebo-controlled randomized study. Journal of Palliative Medicine, 15, 1059–1064.
To determine the effects of thalidomide on anorexia-cachexia and related symptoms
Patients were randomized to receive either 100 mg of thalidomide or placebo orally for 14 days. Pre- and post-study measurements were done.
The study was conducted at a single site in an outpatient setting in Anderson, TX.
The study has clinical applicability for late effects and survivorship.
A randomized controlled trial design was used.
There was no significant change in appetite with thalidomide. Those receiving placebo had improvement in appetite at day 15 (p = 0.01). Body composition measures showed significant decline in body fat percent, fat mass, and fat-free mass by day 15 (p < 0.05), which reversed by day 29.
The study did not demonstrate any benefit of thalidomide for anorexia or related symptoms.
This study does not provide any conclusive findings due to the small sample size and other study limitations cited.