2005

Mayo Clinic Briefings – Study of Cancer-Related Weight and Appetite Loss Accepting Enrollees

A Mayo Clinic Comprehensive Cancer Center study is now enrolling participants to determine the optimal dose of an investigational drug in nasal spray form that may help cancer patients recover their appetites and gain weight.

Researchers are studying the nasal spray form of neuropeptide Y in this phase 1 trial. Neuropeptide Y is the most abundant neuropeptide in the brain, and data show that it is significantly involved in inducing food intake, as well as in other physiologic functions such as vasoconstriction, inhibition of anxiety, and regulation of circadian rhythms. The goal of this study in cancer patients is to find the highest, safest dose level of neuropeptide Y for prompting a clinically significant increase in appetite.

Enrollment is open to all cancer patients, irrespective of type of cancer, who have lost their appetites and are losing weight as a result of that loss of appetite at a rate that is of concern to them or their physicians. Because neuropeptide Y is a potent vasoconstrictor, patients with vascular concerns may not be eligible for the study.

All study participants will need to visit the Rochester research center for at least 4 to 5 hours a day for 2 days. During that time, they will receive neuropeptide Y nasal spray at various dose levels. After administration of the nasal spray, participants will have 8 blood samples drawn over the next 2 hours. They will remain in the research center for observation for another 2 hours after the last sample is drawn. After all the blood samples have been taken, study participants will answer a questionnaire about their appetite level. Each will receive a follow-up phone call the next day to assess their response to the drug.