• R M Goldberg, C L Loprinzi, J A Mailliard, J R O'Fallon, J E Krook, C Ghosh, R D Hestorff, S F Chong, N F Reuter, and T G Shanahan.
• Department of Oncology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN 55905, USA.
• J. Clin. Oncol. 1995 Nov 1;13(11):2856-9.

PurposeBased on evidence that suggests pentoxifylline can inhibit tumor necrosis factor, we set out to evaluate the activity and toxicity of this drug in patients with cancer-associated anorexia and/or cachexia.Patients And MethodsSeventy patients with an Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status of 0 to 2 with cancer anorexia and/or cachexia (defined by a weight loss of > or = 5 lb in the preceding 2 months or a caloric intake < 20 kcal/kg/d) were stratified and then randomly assigned to receive pentoxifylline or identical-appearing placebo tablets in a double-blind fashion. Patients' weights were monitored and patient questionnaires were used to assess appetite, toxicity, and perception of benefit.ResultsPentoxifylline failed to improve the appetites of study patients. Pentoxifylline did not appear to cause any toxicity.ConclusionThis study failed to demonstrate any benefit of pentoxifylline at this dose and schedule as therapy for cancer anorexia and/or cachexia.

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