Eguchi, K., Honda, M., Kataoka, T., Mukouyama, T., Tsuneto, S., Sakamoto, J., & Saji, S. (2014). Efficacy of corticosteroids for cancer-related fatigue: A pilot randomized placebo-controlled trial of advanced cancer patients. Palliative and Supportive Care. Advance online publication.

To investigate the effectiveness of corticosteroids for the treatment of fatigue in patients with advanced cancer

Patients were randomized to receive 16 mg methylprednisolone or placebo orally twice daily for seven days. Study assessments for quality of life levels were done at baseline, day 3, and day 8. Fatigue and appetite loss were evaluated daily.

• N = 34  
• MEDIAN AGE = 69 (range = 46–84 years)
• MALES: 61.8%, FEMALES: 38.2%
• KEY DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: Multiple tumor types

• SITE: Multi-site    
• SETTING TYPE: Not specified    
• LOCATION: Japan

• PHASE OF CARE: End-of-life care
• APPLICATIONS: Palliative care 

Double-blinded, placebo-controlled, randomized, controlled trial

• Visual Analog Scale (VAS) for fatigue and appetite loss
• Quality of Life Questionnaire for Cancer Patients treated with Anticancer Drugs (QOL-ACD)

Fatigue and appetite loss improved in both groups. On day 5, appetite was significantly better with steroid use (p = 0.011). There were no significant differences in adverse events between the groups.

The findings of this study demonstrate that this oral steroid may be helpful for anorexia, but it was not effective for reducing cancer-related fatigue.

• Small sample (< 100)

Oral corticosteroids may improve loss of appetite in patients with advanced cancer. However, steroids were not shown to be helpful in managing the cancer-related fatigue in this study.