Multidisciplinary fatigue management in patients treated with lenvatinib

• Published in: Kanzo Vol. 62; no. 10; pp. 601 - 612
• Main Authors: Zenda, Sadamoto, Ikeda, Masafumi, Kawaguchi, Takumi, Shomura, Masako, Miyazawa, Yasushi, Tauchi, Junko, Koya, Shunji, Endo, Kaoru
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: Japanese
• Published: The Japan Society of Hepatology 01.10.2021
• Subjects: exercise therapy; fatigue; lenvatinib; nutritional therapy; unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma
• ISSN: 0451-4203; 1881-3593
• DOI: 10.2957/kanzo.62.601

Lenvatinib has been used as the first-line therapy for unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma in Japan based on the results of phase III REFLECT study. However, "fatigue and malaise" were observed more frequently in clinical practice than in the clinical trials, and dose reduction and drug withdrawal due to fatigue have become an issue. Therefore, a table discussion was held by multidisciplinary experts to discuss fatigue management optimization. The efficacy of nutrition and exercise therapy has been reported for cancer-related fatigue, and considering the applicability of the findings in CRF is worthwhile although the cause of fatigue caused by lenvatinib has not been identified. Additionally, monitoring the patient's condition at home between hospital visits (e.g., by telephone follow-up) is important. For multidisciplinary monitoring support, accumulating evidence for multidisciplinary management is necessary to optimize lenvatinib therapy for unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma.