• Asian Oncology Nursing
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.20-25
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• 2011

Purpose: The study was aimed to review and understand the meaning of cancer cachexia. Methods: Using the keywords "cachexia" and "cancer cachexia" 30 oncology research published from 1974 to 2009 were selected for the review. Results: The mechanism of cancer cachexia has not been fully understood, but various pathogenesis appears to be involved in the development cachexia including altered metabolism of carbohydrate, lipid, and protein associated with cytokines and hormone. As a result, muscle strength, food intake and resting energy expenditure (REE) are reduced. Most medications for the treatment of cachexia show debating results except some drugs such as megace. Supportive care including nutritional education, nursing care, and social support are found another effective treatment options. Conclusion: The results of this study would help oncology nurses to understand the mechanism of cancer cachexia and its management.

• Journal of Digestive Cancer Research
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• v.3 no.2
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• pp.61-69
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• 2015

About 80% of all pancreatic cancer patients suffer from a wasting syndrome defined as the cancer cachexia characterized by abnormally low weight, weakness, and loss of skeletal muscle mass, which directly impacts physical activity, quality of life and overall survival. Over the past decades, we have gained new insights into the underlying mechanism of cachexia associated with pancreatic cancer. The aim of this review was to explore recent findings about cancer cachexia pathophysiology and describe the current pharmacologic approach. Pancreatic cancer cachexia is a multifactorial syndrome mediated by mechanical factors, inflammatory cytokines, neuropeptides, hormones and tumor-derived factors. The treatment of cancer cachexia remains controversial but is currently an active area of research. Several new targeted drugs are under investigation, and we hope to open a new prospect in the management of cancer cachexia in the future.

• Journal of Digestive Cancer Reports
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• v.5 no.2
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• pp.97-104
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• 2017

Background: Cachexia is a multi-factorial syndrome presenting with chronic illness, decreases in body weight, and loss of adipose tissue and skeletal muscle, mostly in patients with advanced cancer and chronic wasting disease. Even after years of intensive researches, there remains no convincing therapy to prevent cancer cachexia. Methods: In this in vivo study, we have established C26 adenocarcinoma-induced cancer cachexia model in mice to explore the underlying core changes in cytokine, signal transduction, and muscle wasting. The ultimate aim of establishing animal model is to find optimal therapeutics to mitigate cancer cachexia. Results: We have administered C26 adenocarcinoma cells onto BALB/c mice and observed 4 weeks to assess the progression of cancer cachexia. Significant loss of weight accompanied with loss of appetite was noted. As C26 adenocarcinoma xenograft progressed, mortality was started from 3 weeks, accompanied with significant sarcopenia and decreased mice movement. Surges in TNF-α and IL-6 were noted with the commencement of cancer cachexia. Conclusion: Using C26 adenocarcinoma cancer cachexia model, we can screen the optimal therapeutics to mitigate cancer cachexia, in which agents to modulate IL-6, TNF-α, and NF-κB were essential.

• Journal of Digestive Cancer Research
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• v.5 no.2
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• pp.97-104
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• 2017

Background: Cachexia is a multi-factorial syndrome presenting with chronic illness, decreases in body weight, and loss of adipose tissue and skeletal muscle, mostly in patients with advanced cancer and chronic wasting disease. Even after years of intensive researches, there remains no convincing therapy to prevent cancer cachexia. Methods: In this in vivo study, we have established C26 adenocarcinoma-induced cancer cachexia model in mice to explore the underlying core changes in cytokine, signal transduction, and muscle wasting. The ultimate aim of establishing animal model is to find optimal therapeutics to mitigate cancer cachexia. Results: We have administered C26 adenocarcinoma cells onto BALB/c mice and observed 4 weeks to assess the progression of cancer cachexia. Significant loss of weight accompanied with loss of appetite was noted. As C26 adenocarcinoma xenograft progressed, mortality was started from 3 weeks, accompanied with significant sarcopenia and decreased mice movement. Surges in TNF-α and IL-6 were noted with the commencement of cancer cachexia. Conclusion: Using C26 adenocarcinoma cancer cachexia model, we can screen the optimal therapeutics to mitigate cancer cachexia, in which agents to modulate IL-6, TNF-α, and NF-κB were essential.

• BMB Reports
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• v.56 no.7
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• pp.404-409
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• 2023

This study investigates the relationship between cancer cachexia and the gut microbiota, focusing on the influence of cancer on microbial composition. Lewis lung cancer cell allografts were used to induce cachexia in mice, and body and muscle weight changes were monitored. Fecal samples were collected for targeted metabolomic analysis for short chain fatty acids and microbiome analysis. The cachexia group exhibited lower alpha diversity and distinct beta diversity in gut microbiota, compared to the control group. Differential abundance analysis revealed higher Bifidobacterium and Romboutsia, but lower Streptococcus abundance in the cachexia group. Additionally, lower proportions of acetate and butyrate were observed in the cachexia group. The study observed that the impact of cancer cachexia on gut microbiota and their generated metabolites was significant, indicating a host-to-gut microbiota axis.

• Journal of Korean Biological Nursing Science
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.129-138
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• 2012

Purpose: Cachexia is a complex metabolic syndrome associated with wasting of skeletal muscle which contributes to nearly one-third of all cancer deaths. Cachexia lowers the frequency of response to chemotherapy and radiation and ultimately can impact survival as well as quality of life during treatment. NF-kappa B is one of the most important molecular mediators of cachexia. In this study, therefore, possible candidates for inhibitors of NF-kappa B were searched. Methods: Amino acids that regulate cellular redox potential by adjusting the level of NAD/NADH ratio, such as aspartate, pyruvate, and isocitrate were selected. Results: Pyruvate effectively inhibited luciferase activity in TNF-stimulated 293T cells transfect with an NF-kB dependent luciferase reporter vector. Pyruvate also showed protective effect on muscle atrophy of differentiated C2C12 myocyte induced by TNF/IFN. Conclusion: We might be able to develop the nutritional management strategy for cancer cachexia patients with pyruvate supplementation.

• Journal of Korean Physical Therapy Science
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.44-56
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• 2019

Despite the advances in medical technology, there are limited therapeutic interventions for cancer. Currently, the main goal of treatment is to remove a tumor completely. However, recent studies have shown that mortality is highly influenced by symptoms such as depression and cachexia, not solely by cancer itself. Depression is caused by psychological stress, and cachexia involves extreme weight loss with skeletal muscle atrophy, which are widely observed in patients with cancer. Although those two appear completely different from each other, they have a common etiology: cytokines. The production of cytokines can lead to depression and cachexia, and it contributes greatly to the increase in mortality rate. A better understanding of depression and cachexia in patients with cancer will help establish efficient treatment strategies.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Integrative Medicine
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• v.6 no.4
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• pp.111-125
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• 2018

Purpose : Cachexia, is a complex metabolic syndrome associated with underlying illness and characterized by loss of muscle with or without loss of fat mass. Patients with cachxia shows various symptoms including fatigue, anxiety, pain, sleep disorders, and poor appetite. Medications therapy, dietary and exercise therapy, and emotional support are recommended to treat patients with cachexia. However, evidence-based research verifying the role of exercise therapy in patients with cachexia is limited. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of therapeutic exercise on fatigue and anxiety in patients with cachexia. Methods : Case report. A 29-year-old woman was diagnosed with cachexia. Following 2 weeks of inpatient and 4 weeks of out-patient treatment. we assessed her weight, as well as pain, fatigue, and anxiety level. As an the patient exercised for an hour 5 times a week for 2 weeks,-and during the outpatient visit, she exercised for an hour twice a week for 4 weeks. Her weight was measured using a weighting scale. Pain was assessed using the visual analog scale, and fatigue and anxiety levels were assessed using questionnaires. Results : Following 6 weeks of treatment, exercise therapy a positively affected the patient's weight, as well as pain, fatigue, and anxiety levels. We observed a weight gain of 4.5 kg, pain reduction of 5.1 points. Fatigue reduction of 43 points, anxiety reduction of total 41 points. Conclusion : Exercise therapy positively affects weight, as well as pain, fatigue, and anxiety levels in patients with cachexia. However, generalization of this observation is inappropriate based on this single case study.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.36 no.4
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• pp.368-375
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• 2003

Cancer cachexia, characterized by weight loss and progressive tissue wasting, has been postulated to be mediated by cytokines. This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of Korean Traditional Medicine (KTM ; mokhyang, jisil, osooyu) mixture on food intake, blood cytokines level and blood nutrients status of the cachexia induced-mice. Thirty male Balb/c mice aged 6-8 weets were blocked into 3 groups that were Normal (no colon26 cells) Control (colon 26 cells) and KTM (colon26 cells + KTM extract mixture) group. In Control and KTM groups, murine adenocarcinoma colon 26 cells were injected subcutaneously to induce cachexia. KTM mice were given 200 ul KTM extract mixture (7%) per day. Half of each groups were sacrificed at the 14 th day to see serum cytokines & nutrients and the others were fed until almost of control group died to see life span. food intake and body weight were decreased significantly in cachexia induced groups. Tumor weight of KTM group was significantly lower than control group. Serum cytokines (IL-1$\beta$ and TNF-$\alpha$) level of cachexia induced groups were increased than those of normal group, and those of KTM group were significantly lower than the level of control group. Total serum protein and serum albumin were higher in KTM group than other groups. TG and fatty acid were lower in cachexia induced groups than normal group. HDL-cholesterol in serum was increased in KTM group. Effect of oral administration of KTM extract mixture on survival time of colon26 bearing mice showed extension of the life span. Overall, this study showed that KTM (mokhyang, jisil, osooyu) extract mixture inhibited the growth of cancer cell, changed the secretion of cytokines induced by colon26 adenocarcinoma in mice, and changed nutrition metabolism.

• Korean Journal of Oriental Medicine
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.181-191
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• 2010

Objetcives : Cancer cachexia is a common syndrome in advanced cancer patients, which is characterized by profound changes in protein, fat and carbohydrate metabolism, resulting in anorexia, weight loss, muscle wasting and poor performance status. We studied the journals of Chinese herb medicine about cancer cachexia and reported the results. Methods : This study attempted to analyze the contents of the research papers concerning the treatment of cancer cachexia presented in the journals of Chinese medicine published in China over the period between 2000 and 2009. Results & Conclusions : The principles for medical treatment were invigorating Ki(益氣), invigorating the spleen(健脾), regulating the stomach(和胃), nourishing the blood(養血), nourishing Eum(補陰), promoting the circulation of Ki(行氣), removing the phlegm(化痰), removing blood stasis(祛瘀) etc. The used herbs were Poria(茯笭), Astragali Radix(黃芪), Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma(白朮), Codonopsis Pilosulae Radix(黨蔘), Dioscoreae Rhizoma(山藥), Citri Pericarpium(陳皮), Angelicae Gigantis Radix(當歸), Coicis Pemen(薏苡仁), Paeoniae Radix Alba(白芍藥) etc. The effetcive rate of treatment with Chinese herb medicine group was comparable or even more effetcive. Chinese herb medicine group had little side effetcs. Chinese medicine herb treatment to inhibit cancer cachexia has many possibilities.