Megestrol acetate is a synthetic progestin with potent antineoplastic and appetite-stimulating properties. It is primarily used in the management of hormone-responsive cancers, such as breast and endometrial cancer, and to treat cachexia or significant weight loss in patients with chronic illnesses like cancer and AIDS. Developed in the 1960s as part of efforts to create more effective synthetic progestins, megestrol acetate quickly gained recognition for its dual therapeutic action modulating hormone-dependent tumor growth and stimulating appetite through central mechanisms. Over the decades, it has become an important drug in oncology and palliative care, valued for its efficacy in controlling tumor progression and improving quality of life in patients with severe wasting or anorexia.
