Method for the Prevention and Treatment of Cachexia and Anorexia

Abstract

The present invention relates to methods and nutritional compositions for the prevention and treatment of cachexia and anorexia. The methods of the invention comprise administering a composition comprising effective amounts of ω-3 fatty acids such as alpha-linolenic acid, stearidonic acid, eicosapentaenoic acid, docosapentaenoic acid, docosahexaenoic acid or mixtures thereof; of branched-chain amino acids valine, leucine, isoleucine or mixtures thereof; with or without reduced levels of tryptophan and 5-hydroxytryptophan; and of antioxidant system selected from the group comprising beta-carotene, vitamin C, vitamin E, selenium, or mixtures thereof.

Description

[0001] This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10 / 784,451 filed on Feb. 23, 2004; which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10 / 002,179 filed on Dec. 5, 2001 which is abandoned; which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09 / 642,630 filed on Aug. 18, 2000 which is now U.S. Pat. No. 6,387,883; which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09 / 479,550 filed Jan. 7, 2000, which is now U.S. Pat. No. 6,326,355; which is a divisional of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08 / 842,454 filed Apr. 24, 1997, which is now U.S. Pat. No. 6,077,828; which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08 / 635,179 filed Apr. 25, 1996 which is abandoned.[0002] The present invention relates to methods and nutritional compositions for the prevention and treatment of cancer cachexia and anorexia. In the practice of the present invention patients are enterally administered ω-3 fatty acids including, but not limited t...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0029] In contrast to the prior art, the nutritional composition of the present invention is not restricted to correcting metabolism of just one nutrient class at a time, such as lipids or amino acids. Instead, a preferred nutritional multinutrient composition comprises a balanced formulation containing ω-3 fatty acids, antioxidants, branched-chain amino acids, and with or without a reduced level of tryptophan and 5-hydroxytryptophan. Such a composition can demonstrate strong inhibition of cachexia and anorexia associated with a variety of different cancers (disease states).

[0030] In yet another embodiment, the methods further optionally comprise administering the nutritional composition in combination with cancer chemotherapeutic agents, including but not limited to, 5-fluorouracil, mitomycin-C, adriamycin, chloroethyl nitrosoureas and methotrexate, to improve the transport of the drug into the target cancer cells and ultimately the efficacy of the anticancer agent.

Problems solved by technology

The majority of patients with cancer whose disease progresses to metastatic disease develop cachexia during their treatment program and the cachexia contributes to their deaths.

Although the relationship between pretreatment malnutrition (weight loss) and adverse outcome is established, no consistent relationship has been demonstrated between the development of cachexia and tumor size, disease stage, and type or duration of the malignancy.

For example, abnormalities in carbohydrate metabolism include increased rates of total glucose turnover, increased hepatic gluconeogenesis, glucose intolerance and elevated glucose levels.

Moreover, there have been problems reported with the use of high levels of medium-chain triglycerides and use of structured lipids has been suggested in some total parenteral nutrition formulas.

Moreover, these structured lipids do not provide the same benefits if administered enterally.

This method had serious drawbacks, including difficulty in swallowing, belching, and bad odor.

Thus, the prevention and / or treatment of cachexia and anorexia remain a frustrating problem.

Both animal and human studies suggest that nutritional support is largely ineffective in repleting lean body mass in the cancer-bearing host.

Randomized trials exploring the usefulness of total parenteral nutrition (TPN) support as an adjunct to cytotoxic antineoplastic therapy have demonstrated little improvement in treatment results.

This, along with a clear demonstration that TPN can stimulate tumor growth in animals suggests the routine use of TPN in cancer treatment is not justified.