Breaking barriers in cancer care!
A groundbreaking study at JIPMER reveals an affordable solution to combat severe appetite loss in chemotherapy patients. Dr. Prasanth Ganesan’s research unveils the power of Olanzapine, an economical antipsychotic, at just ₹2 a day. Revolutionising cancer treatment!
JIPMER’s breakthrough study proves Olanzapine’s effectiveness and affordability, reshaping international standards. The acclaimed research prompts changes in American Society of Clinical Oncology guidelines for managing anorexia in chemotherapy. Anorexia impacts 30-80% of those battling advanced malignancies, affecting nutrition and potentially impacting chemotherapy tolerance and survival.
Dr. Prasanth highlights the recent trial’s success with low-dose daily Olanzapine, showcasing promising results. This simple, cost-effective, and well-tolerated intervention proves to enhance appetite and foster weight gain in newly diagnosed chemotherapy patients.
What is Anorexia?
Anorexia refers to a medical condition characterized by an intentional restriction of food intake, often resulting in significantly lower body weight than is considered normal or healthy for an individual’s age and height.
The study unveils that 40% to 60% of newly diagnosed cancer patients grapple with anorexia, a factor that, coupled with inadequate oral intake, significantly impacts cancer survival rates. Chemotherapy exacerbates anorexia, compromising nutritional status and indirectly affecting treatment tolerance, especially in cancers like gastrointestinal tract and lung cancers.
The traditional guidelines recommend dietary counseling for anorexia and cachexia management, with limited data supporting pharmacological interventions to stimulate appetite.
What is Olanzapine?
Olanzapine, a second-generation parenteral anti-psychotic drug, impacts on dopamine and serotonin receptors. It was initially associated with weight gain in schizophrenia patients.
In the trial spanning 12 weeks, starting from the first day of chemotherapy, olanzapine was administered along with nutritional guidance to patients facing advanced lung, gastric, and hepatopancreatic biliary tract cancers.
Between November 2020 and June 2022, a total of 150 patients were screened, with 124 participating in the trial (63 in the olanzapine arm and 61 in the placebo arm).
The evaluation of 58 patients in the olanzapine group and 54 in the placebo group for the primary endpoint, weight gain at the 12-week mark, unveiled a significant difference. Impressively, 60% (35 out of 58 patients) in the olanzapine group achieved over 5% weight gain, contrasting with only 9% (5 out of 54 patients) in the placebo group. Moreover, the olanzapine-treated group demonstrated a lower proportion of patients experiencing weight loss at the study’s conclusion (14% vs 59%). Exciting results shaping the future of cancer care!
In the realm of medical breakthroughs, Olanzapine emerges as a beacon of hope, paving the way for a brighter future in the fight against cancer.
– Mili (MBBS , Social Media director and Editor, MCD)
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