Evidence map›Paper›PMID 38987837›Full record

ArticleJournal of pharmaceutical health care and sciences2024

CONUT score as a predictor for anamorelin efficacy in patients with cancer cachexia receiving chemotherapy.

Hironori Fujii, Akitaka Makiyama, Kayoko Nishimura, Hirotoshi Iihara, Chiemi Hirose, Koichi Ohata, Yunami Yamada, Daichi Watanabe, Itaru Yasufuku, Naoki Okumura and 5 more

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Journal of pharmaceutical health care and sciences, 2024. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 7 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
7citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

7 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Trial
  2. Article
  3. Predictors of the early discontinuation of anamorelin hydrochloride in gastrointestinal cancer-related cachexia: a multicenter retrospective cohort study (HGCSG2201).Supportive care in cancer : official journal of the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer · 2026
    Article
  4. Effect of anamorelin on body weight in patients with gastric cancer-associated cachexia: an observational study.Gastric cancer : official journal of the International Gastric Cancer Association and the Japanese Gastric Cancer Association · 2025
    Observational
  5. Article
  6. Article
  7. Observational
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

15 authors.

Hironori FujiiDepartment of Pharmacy, Gifu University Hospital, Gifu, Japan. fujii.hironori.u5@f.gifu-u.ac.jp.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-0944-7290
Akitaka MakiyamaCancer Center, Gifu University Hospital, Gifu, Japan.
Kayoko NishimuraCenter for Nutrition Support and Infection Control, Gifu University Hospital, Gifu, Japan.
Hirotoshi IiharaDepartment of Pharmacy, Gifu University Hospital, Gifu, Japan.
Chiemi HiroseDepartment of Pharmacy, Gifu University Hospital, Gifu, Japan.
Koichi OhataDepartment of Pharmacy, Gifu University Hospital, Gifu, Japan.
Yunami YamadaDepartment of Pharmacy, Gifu University Hospital, Gifu, Japan.
Daichi WatanabeDepartment of Pharmacy, Gifu University Hospital, Gifu, Japan.
Itaru YasufukuDepartment of Gastroenterological Surgery/Pediatric Surgery, Gifu University Graduate School of Medicine, Gifu, Japan.
Naoki OkumuraDepartment of Gastroenterological Surgery/Pediatric Surgery, Gifu University Graduate School of Medicine, Gifu, Japan.
Yoshihiro TanakaDepartment of Gastroenterological Surgery/Pediatric Surgery, Gifu University Graduate School of Medicine, Gifu, Japan.
Takao TakahashiDepartment of Gastroenterological Surgery/Pediatric Surgery, Gifu University Graduate School of Medicine, Gifu, Japan.
Ryo KobayashiDepartment of Pharmacy, Gifu University Hospital, Gifu, Japan.
Nobuhisa MatsuhashiDepartment of Gastroenterological Surgery/Pediatric Surgery, Gifu University Graduate School of Medicine, Gifu, Japan.
Akio SuzukiDepartment of Pharmacy, Gifu University Hospital, Gifu, Japan.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundAnamorelin is expected to improve cancer cachexia by increasing lean body mass (LBM) due to increased appetite and protein synthesis. However, the effect of anamorelin on cancer cachexia in real-world practice is unclear. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of anamorelin and to identify predictors of efficacy on treatment with anamorelin.

methodsWe retrospectively analyzed data from patients with cancer cachexia treated with chemotherapy between May 2021 and August 2022. Efficacy of anamorelin was evaluated using LBM, with "12-week sustained effective response" to anamorelin treatment defined as maintenance or an increase in LBM for 12 weeks. We examined factors associated with "12-week sustained effective response" to anamorelin treatment using a multivariable logistic model that included controlling nutritional status (CONUT) score, an objective assessment of nutritional disorders, and the modified Glasgow prognostic score (mGPS), which scores the cachexia status of cancer patients. To assess patient subjective quality of life (QOL) changes related to eating after starting anamorelin treatment, we used a questionnaire (QOL-ACD appetite-related items: Q8, 9, 11). Adverse events were evaluated in accordance with the Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (CTCAE) Version 5.0.

resultsOn analysis of data from 40 patients, 23 patients showed a 12-week sustained effective response to anamorelin (57.5%). At 12 weeks, LBM significantly increased by 1.63 ± 3.73 kg (mean ± SD). Multivariable logistic analysis revealed that a low CONUT score was significantly associated with "12-week sustained effective response" to anamorelin treatment (adjusted odds ratio: 13.5, 95% confidence intervals: 2.2-84.2, P = 0.004). QOL assessment showed a trend toward increased appetite and enjoyment of meals after anamorelin initiation. Five patients (12.5%) had an increase in HbA1c of more than 1.0% during the 12 weeks after the start of anamorelin. No patient had QT interval prolongation or grade 3 or higher hepatic transaminase elevation.

conclusionAnamorelin may maintain or increase LBM with tolerable safety in patients with cancer cachexia undergoing chemotherapy. A low CONUT score, despite meeting criteria for cancer cachexia, is suggested as a predictor for the efficacy of anamorelin, indicating that patients with a low CONUT score may benefit from early introduction of anamorelin.

Indexed as

AnamorelinCancer cachexiaCONUT scorePerformance statusSurvival

Identifiers

PMID38987837
PMCPMC11234742

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.