Tumours block protective muscle and nerve signals

Article Chemistry, Medicinal

The Antiviral Drug Tilorone Is a Potent and Selective Inhibitor of Acetylcholinesterase

Patricia A. Vignaux et al.

Summary: Acetylcholinesterase (AChE) is a crucial drug target for neurological disorders, and a study used high-throughput screening, machine learning, and docking to identify new inhibitors, including the antiviral drug tilorone. Tilorone showed selectivity for AChE over BuChE and other proteins, suggesting potential for repurposing in conditions benefiting from AChE inhibition.

CHEMICAL RESEARCH IN TOXICOLOGY (2021)

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Review Cell Biology

Targeting the Activin Receptor Signaling to Counteract the Multi-Systemic Complications of Cancer and Its Treatments

Juha J. Hulmi et al.

Summary: Muscle wasting, known as cachexia, is common in cancer patients and is associated with poor prognosis. Anticancer treatments may exacerbate cachexia. Preclinical studies have shown that blocking ACVR2 signaling can preserve muscle mass and improve survival, but further research is needed to determine if improved survival directly results from muscle preservation.

CELLS (2021)

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Review Geriatrics & Gerontology

Phenotypic features of cancer cachexia-related loss of skeletal muscle mass and function: lessons from human and animal studies

Agnes Martin et al.

Summary: Cancer cachexia is a complex syndrome that leads to decreased skeletal muscle mass, impaired mitochondrial oxidative metabolism, faulty mechanisms of muscle repair, and disrupted muscle function. Early diagnosis of cachexia in cancer patients can be achieved through imaging techniques and standardized muscle strength tests.

JOURNAL OF CACHEXIA SARCOPENIA AND MUSCLE (2021)

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Article Cell Biology

Perturbed BMP signaling and denervation promote muscle wasting in cancer cachexia

Roberta Sartori et al.

Summary: The study showed that diminished BMP signaling is associated with cancer-induced muscle wasting, and increasing BMP signaling could prevent muscle wasting. This presents an attractive strategy to counteract the loss of functional musculature in cancer patients.

SCIENCE TRANSLATIONAL MEDICINE (2021)

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Review Oncology

Neural Mechanisms of Cancer Cachexia

Brennan Olson et al.

Summary: Cancer cachexia is a devastating wasting syndrome characterized by anorexia, weight loss, cognitive impairment, and fatigue. The brain plays a critical role in initiating and propagating cancer cachexia programs. Recent research has identified new molecular mediators of cachexia that interact directly with the brain, highlighting the importance of neural mechanisms in cancer cachexia.

CANCERS (2021)

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Article Medicine, Research & Experimental