Mechanisms to explain wasting of muscle and fat in cancer cachexia.

Abstract

PURPOSE OF REVIEW:

To describe the most relevant recent findings concerning the molecular mechanisms involved in both fat and muscle tissues in cachectic cancer patients.

RECENT FINDINGS:

Relevant progress has been made in the mechanism of signalling protein metabolism in skeletal muscle. PI3K has a dual role inhibiting protein degradation by inhibition of Atrogin-1 and MuRF1 gene expression and facilitating AKT phosphorylation, leading to increased protein synthesis. Interestingly, Caspase-3 activity is intimately associated with myofibrillar protein degradation in muscle tissue. With respect to fat metabolism, increased lipolysis in human cancer cachexia seems to be directly connected to increased hormone-sensitive lipase activity.

SUMMARY:

The results and findings described in this review represent important progress in wasting disease mechanisms and may provide hints for future therapeutic approaches in cancer cachexia.

• Authors: Josep M Argilés, Francisco J López-Soriano, Sílvia Busquets
• Journal: Current opinion in supportive and palliative care (Curr Opin Support Palliat Care) Vol. 1 Issue 4 Pg. 293-8 (Dec 2007) ISSN: 1751-4266 [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 18685378 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Review)

Topics

• Adipose Tissue (metabolism, pathology)
• Cachexia (metabolism, pathology)
• Humans
• Muscle, Skeletal (metabolism, pathology)
• Muscular Atrophy (metabolism, pathology)
• Neoplasms (metabolism, pathology)
• Wasting Syndrome (metabolism, pathology)
• Weight Loss