Race-based differences in serum biomarkers for cancer-associated cachexia in a diverse cohort of patients with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma
Year: 2025
Type: article
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma is projected to become the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths by 2040, with the highest disease burden expected amongst Non-Hispanic Blacks. One of the most significant predictors of poor outcomes is the presence of cancer-associated cachexia (CCa). Yet, race- and ethnicity-specific biomarkers for early CCa diagnosis are lacking. Thus, evaluated a panel of candidate biomarkers of CCa in a diverse cohort of pre-treatment serum. Our study shows that GDF-15 was associated with cachexia severity, was superior to standard CCa-associated biomarkers at classifying cachexia, and differentiated between non-cachexia and pre-cachexia status, but only among Hispanic/Latinx and non-Hispanic Whites. Furthermore, high GDF-15 levels at diagnosis were associated with a ~ 2-fold increase in weight loss over the 6 months post-diagnosis. Thus, GDF-15 may be a potential biomarker for pre-cachexia (prior to weight loss) in the White and the Hispanic population, but not Black individuals. These findings underscore the fact that enrollment of minority individuals in clinical trials to evaluate treatments for CCa is of utmost importance.
Source: Communications Medicine
Authors: Margaret A. Park, Evan W. Davis, Solomon Alhassan, J. Pablo Arnoletti, Toni L. Basinski, Ashley B. McKee, Mark Bloomston, Tiffany L. Carson, Tiago Biachi de Castria, Dung-Tsa Chen, Elena M. Cortizas, Sylvia L. Crowder, Maria Genilo Delgado, Wade G. Douglas, Jason B. Fleming, Pamela Hodul, Kevin L. Huguet, Kun Jiang, Dae Won Kim, John Koomen, Anjuli K. Luthra, Mokenge Malafa, Anjana A. Menon, Raiza Morales, Nipun B. Merchant, Kenneth Meredith, Qianxing Mo, Manual A. Molina-Vega, Lina Moreno-Urazan, Kayode D. Olumoyin, Nathan Parker, Jose M. Pimiento, Ghulam Rasool, Katarzyna A. Rejniak, Samer Sansil, Lauren M. Sparks, Paul Stewart, Alexandra F. Tassielli, Jamie K. Teer, Dan Viet Tran, Jose G. Trevino, Vic Velanovich, Christopher J. Whelan, Daniel Jeong, Sarah M. Judge, Andrew R. Judge, Jennifer B. Permuth
Institutions: Moffitt Cancer Center, Orlando Health, University of Miami, Florida State University, Tallahassee Memorial HealthCare, Harold C. Simmons Comprehensive Cancer Center, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, St. Anthony’s Hospital, Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, Sarasota Memorial Hospital, Lakeland Regional Medical Center, Translational Research Institute for Metabolism and Diabetes, University of Utah, Huntsman Cancer Institute, Virginia Commonwealth University, University of Florida, VCU Massey Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of South Florida, Tampa General Hospital, University of Florida Health
Language: English
Subfield: Physiology
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $3,690
OpenAlex ID: W4417469793