Cancer Cachexia and Fat–Muscle Physiology

• Published in: The New England journal of medicine Vol. 365; no. 6; pp. 565 - 567
• Main Author: Fearon, Kenneth C.H
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Massachusetts Medical Society 11.08.2011
• Subjects: Adipose Tissue - enzymology; Adipose Tissue - physiopathology; Animals; Cachexia; Cachexia - enzymology; Cachexia - etiology; Cachexia - metabolism; Cancer; Cancer therapies; Cytokines; Disease Models, Animal; Glycoproteins; Humans; Inflammation; Insulin resistance; Lipase - metabolism; Lipolysis; Metabolism; Mice; Muscle, Skeletal - physiopathology; Musculoskeletal system; Neoplasms - complications; Neoplasms - enzymology; Neoplasms - physiopathology; Physiology; Sarcopenia; Sarcopenia - etiology
• ISSN: 0028-4793; 1533-4406
• DOI: 10.1056/NEJMcibr1106880

Cancer cachexia involves loss of muscle and fat. A recent study shows that preventing lipolysis in a mouse model of cachexia results in protection against muscle loss and thus points to the existence of molecular cross talk between fat and muscle. Cachexia affects the majority of patients with advanced cancer and is associated with a reduction in treatment tolerance, response to therapy, quality of life, and duration of survival. It is a multifactorial syndrome caused by a variable combination of reduced food intake and abnormal metabolism that results in negative balances of energy and protein. Cachexia is defined by an ongoing loss of skeletal-muscle mass 1 and leads to progressive functional impairment. Although appetite stimulants or nutritional support can help reverse the loss of fat, the reversal of muscle wasting is much more difficult and remains a challenge in patient care. The . . .