Prospective, randomized, cross-over pilot study of the effects of Rikkunshito, a Japanese traditional herbal medicine, on anorexia and plasma-acylated ghrelin levels in lung cancer patients undergoing cisplatin-based chemotherapy

Purpose Anorexia induced by cytotoxic chemotherapy on delayed phase is a highly frequent adverse event. We aimed to determine the effects of rikkunshito (RKT) on chemotherapy-induced anorexia (CIA) in patients with lung cancer. Methods This prospective, randomized, cross-over pilot trial included 40 lung cancer patients scheduled to undergo cisplatin-based chemotherapy and randomized to either a group given RKT 7.5 g/day for 14 days (Group A, N = 20) or not (Group B, N = 20), then the treatments were switched. All patients received dexamethasone, palonosetron hydrochloride and aprepitant regardless of group assignment. Rescue drugs were allowed as required. The primary and key secondary endpoints were changes in caloric intake and in plasma acylated ghrelin (AG) levels, respectively. Average daily caloric intake during days 3 to 5 was compared with that on day 1 of each course. Results The primary and key secondary endpoints were analyzed in 31 patients (per protocol population) completing the study. Reduction rate of caloric intake was lower in RKT, than in control courses (18% vs. 25%, P = 0.025). Plasma AG levels significantly declined between days 1 and 3 in RKT (12.3 vs. 7.5 fmol/mL, P < 0.001) and control (10.8 vs. 8.6 fmol/mL, P < 0.001) courses. However, those obviously increased to 8.5 fmol/mL (P = 0.025) by day 5 in RKT course but not in control course (7.7 fmol/mL, P = 0.28). Conclusions Rikkunshito could mitigate CIA and ameliorate plasma AG levels during the delayed phase of CDDP-based chemotherapy in lung cancer patients. Clinical trial registration numbers: UMIN000010748.