Work

Molecular Pathways: Cachexia Signaling—A Targeted Approach to Cancer Treatment

Year: 2016

Type: article

Abstract: Cancer cachexia is a multifactorial syndrome characterized by an ongoing loss of skeletal muscle mass, which negatively affects quality of life and portends a poor prognosis. Numerous molecular substrates and mechanisms underlie the dysregulation of skeletal muscle synthesis and degradation observed in cancer cachexia, including proinflammatory cytokines (TNFα, IL1, and IL6), and the NF-κB, IGF1/AKT/mTOR, and myostatin/activin-SMAD pathways. Recent preclinical and clinical studies have demonstrated that anti-cachexia drugs (such as MABp1 and soluble receptor antagonist of myostatin/activin) not only prevent muscle wasting but also may prolong overall survival. In this review, we focus on the significance of cachexia signaling in patients with cancer and highlight promising drugs targeting tumor cachexia in clinical development. Clin Cancer Res; 22(16); 3999-4004. ©2016 AACR.

Source: Clinical Cancer Research

DOI: 10.1158/1078-0432.ccr-16-0495

Authors: Yuji Miyamoto, Diana L. Hanna, Wu Zhang, Hideo Baba, Heinz-Josef Lenz

Institutions: University of Southern California, USC Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center, Kumamoto University

Language: English

Topic: Muscle Physiology and Disorders

Subfield: Molecular Biology

Field: Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology

Domain: Life Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: green

Funder: National Cancer Institute