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Progestagens and Corticosteroids in the Management Cancer Cachexia

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Cachexia and Wasting: A Modern Approach
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Abstract

Over the past few years, many authors have approached the problem of the treatment of cancer cachexia focusing on either the knowledge of the main pathogenetic events, or the outcomes of the treatment in terms of symptoms or improvement in quality of life [1] [8]. The relevance of clinical investigations of cancer anorexia-cachexia has epidemiological and clinical roots, considering that it is very frequent in advanced and terminal disease (up to 40% of patients with advanced disease, and more than 80% of terminal patients), and that its clinical manifestations often represent a source of great concern for both patients and relatives [1] [5]. The clinical approach to cancer anorexia-cachexia has been directed towards different targets, and it can be aetiological, pathogenetic or symptomatic according to the attention paid to tumour growth, the main pathogenetic events, or the clinical behaviour of the syndrome. However, it is mandatory to define both the biological and clinical rationale of the different therapeutic options, and the outcomes of every therapeutic approach, using an evidence-based model.

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Tassinari, D., Maltoni, M. (2006). Progestagens and Corticosteroids in the Management Cancer Cachexia. In: Mantovani, G., et al. Cachexia and Wasting: A Modern Approach. Springer, Milano. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-88-470-0552-5_64

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