Chemotherapy-Induced Cachexia and Model-Informed Dosing to Preserve Lean Mass in Cancer Treatment

Although chemotherapy is a standard treatment for cancer, it comes with significant side effects. In particular, certain agents can induce severe muscle loss, known as cachexia, worsening patient quality of life and treatment outcomes. 5-fluorouracil, an anti-cancer agent used to treat several cance...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inbioRxiv
Main Authors Farhang-Sardroodi, Suzan, La Croix, Michael A, Wilkie, Kathleen
Format Paper
LanguageEnglish
Published Cold Spring Harbor Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press 01.10.2021
Subjects
5-Fluorouracil
Aging
Antitumor agents
Cachexia
Cancer
Cancer therapies
Chemotherapy
Dosage
Mathematical models
Morphine
Patients
Quality of life
Tumors
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Summary:Although chemotherapy is a standard treatment for cancer, it comes with significant side effects. In particular, certain agents can induce severe muscle loss, known as cachexia, worsening patient quality of life and treatment outcomes. 5-fluorouracil, an anti-cancer agent used to treat several cancers, has been shown to cause muscle loss. Experimental data indicates a non-linear dose-dependence for muscle loss in mice treated with daily or week-day schedules. We present a mathematical model of chemotherapy-induced muscle wasting that captures this non-linear dose-dependence. Area-under-the-curve metrics are proposed to quantify the treatment's effects on lean mass and tumour control. Model simulations are used to explore alternate dosing schedules, aging effects, and morphine use in chemotherapy treatment with the aim of better protecting lean mass while actively targeting the tumour, ultimately leading to improved personalization of treatment planning and improved patient quality of life. Competing Interest Statement The authors have declared no competing interest.
DOI:10.1101/2021.10.01.462698