Effect of an Antioxidant on Cancer-Cachectic Patients Undergoing Exercise Training

Effect of N-Acetylcysteine on Skeletal Muscle in Cachectic Cancer Patients Undergoing a Resistance Training Program (Phase 2 Study)

Status

Completed

Phases

Phase 2

Study type

Interventional

Source

ClinicalTrials.gov

Registry ID

NCT00196885

Enrollment

Registered

2005-09-20

Start date

2003-12-31

Completion date

2006-12-31

Last updated

2008-06-20

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

Bronchial Carcinoma, Gastrointestinal Neoplasms, Hodgkin Disease, Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma, Weight Loss

Keywords

cancer cachexia, muscle wasting, weight loss, proteolysis

Brief summary

The purpose of the study is to tests the hypothesis, that N-acetylcysteine (a thiol-antioxidant)improves the exercise training effect on cancer patients that experience weight loss (cachexia) as assessed by muscle mass and function as well as histomorphology.

Interventions

DRUGN-acetylcysteine

Study design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Intervention model

PARALLEL

Primary purpose

TREATMENT

Masking

DOUBLE

Eligibility

Sex/Gender

ALL

Age

20 Years to 80 Years

Healthy volunteers

Yes

Inclusion criteria

* gastrointestinal or bronchial cancer * weight loss of 10% within 6 months * sufficient mobility

Exclusion criteria

* severe pain, steroid therapy, severe internal, muscular, neurological, psychiatric disease, N-acetylcysteine allergy

Design outcomes

Primary

Measure	Time frame
muscle cross-sectional area, peak forces	—

Secondary

Measure	Time frame
muscle fiber composition (biopsy vastus lateralis muscle mRNA levels of cytokines, myostatin. Activity of Akt-dependent pathways	—
muscle 31Phospho-magnetic-resonance spectroscopy	—

Countries

Germany

Outcome results

None listed

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: Feb 4, 2026