Cancer cachexia: mediating factors and the effect of eicosapentaenoic acid dieting
Year: 2010
Type: article
Abstract: :\t Cancer cachexia is an involuntary weight loss of more than 10 % of premorbid weight, caused by depletion of lipid stores, muscle wasting, anorexia and metabolic alterations. It results from a complex tumour-host interaction associated with an elevated production of cytokines (e.g. TNF-α, IL-1, IL-6) and release of tumour-derived catabolic factors (e.g. lipid-mobilizing factor, protein-mobilizing factor). In this paper we discuss data suggesting a potential role of ω-3 fatty acids, such as eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) in the treatment of cancer cachexia. These data indicate that dieting EPA decreases production of cytokines, attenuates the lipolysis process and reduces activity of the proteolysis-inducing factor (PIF). In contrast to other therapeutic agents, which only improve appetite, it has been shown that EPA supplementation prolonged the survival of cancer cachexia patients.
Authors: Małgorzata Kowalczewska, Sylwia Wrotek, Tomasz Jędrzejewski, Wiesław Kozak
Institution: Nicolaus Copernicus University
Language: English
Subfield: Physiology (medical)
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: diamond
OpenAlex ID: W769700675