Journal
NATURE REVIEWS CANCER
Volume 2, Issue 11, Pages 862-871Publisher
NATURE PUBLISHING GROUP
DOI: 10.1038/nrc927
Keywords
-
Categories
Ask authors/readers for more resources
Cachexia - the massive (up to 80%) loss of both adipose tissue and skeletal muscle mass is a significant factor in the poor performance status and high mortality rate of cancer patients. Although this metabolic defect has been known since cancer was first studied, it is only recently that major advances have been made in the identification of catabolic factors that act to destroy host tissues during the cachectic process. Although anorexia is frequently present, depression of food intake alone seems not to be responsible for the wasting of body tissues, as nutritional supplementation or pharmacological manipulation of appetite is unable to reverse the catabolic process - particularly with respect to skeletal muscle. However, recent clinical studies in cancer patients have shown that nutritional supplementation can be effective when combined with agents that attenuate the action of tumour factors and modifiers of the central effects on appetite might also show promise.
Authors
I am an author on this paper
Click your name to claim this paper and add it to your profile.
Reviews
Recommended
No Data Available