Anorexia–cachexia syndrome in pancreatic cancer: Recent advances and new pharmacological approach

Skeletal muscle atrophy: Potential therapeutic agents and their mechanisms of action

“…If the treatment is discontinued abruptly it can lead to thromboembolic phenomena, peripheral edema, hyperglycemia, hypertension, adrenal suppression and adrenal insufficiency [22].…”

“…One of those systems is the NFB-dependent ubiquitin-proteasome pathway which is responsible for degradation of myofibrillar proteins and thus skeletal muscle wasting [18][19][20]. Studies have shown that EPA suppresses the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines such as IL-1, TNF␣ and IL-6 in cancer induced cachexia [21][22][23]. EPA also inhibits the NFB activation by suppressing IÄB kinase activity (IKK, an enzyme that phosphorylate IB and promotes its degradation).…”

“…Clinical results from randomized trials have suggested that EPA administration may not be effective in treating cancer cachexia. Likewise in another clinical trial, impact of EPA supplement was compared with megestrol acetate (standard cachexia treatment drug) in cancer cachexia where it was found that megestrol acetate is more effective than EPA in increasing body weight [22,37,38].…”

Management of the Gastrointestinal Tract and Nutrition in the Geriatric Surgical Patient

“…If the patient has 2 of the following, he or she has malnutrition: insufficient energy intake, recent weight loss, loss of muscle mass, loss of subcutaneous fat, localized or generalized fluid Cachexia is characterized by profound loss (up to 80%) of adipose tissue and skeletal muscle mass, which is associated with hematologic derangements and asthenia. 39 It is a complex syndrome characterized by inflammation and altered metabolism 39 and is associated with metabolic disease, cancer, acquired immunodeficiency syndrome, or end-stage organ disease.…”

“…40 Data from Refs. 1,39,40 Nutrition in the Geriatric Surgical Patient accumulation, and diminished functional status as measured by hand grip strength. 16 The hand strength test with a dynamometer has the strongest correlation with muscle mass and nutritional status among physical function assessments.…”