The Cancer Cachexia Index Can Be Used to Prognostically Predict Patients with Gastric Cancer Undergoing Gastrectomy

INTRODUCTION

Cancer cachexia occurs in cancer patients more frequently as the cancer progresses, with a negative impact on treatment outcomes. In this study, we sought to clarify the clinical impact of a cancer cachexia index (CXI) in patients with gastric cancer (GC) undergoing gastrectomy.

METHODS

Between January 2013 and December 2018, we reviewed data from 556 patients treated for GC at our hospital. CXI was calculated using skeletal muscle index (SMI), serum albumin, and neutrophil-lymphocyte ratios (NLR). Patients were divided into high (n = 414) or low CXI (n = 142) groups. We investigated the clinical impact of CXI in patients with GC undergoing gastrectomy.

RESULTS

Multivariate analyses of 5-year overall survival (OS) and cancer-specific survival (CSS) rates indicated that a low CXI was independently associated with unfavorable outcomes for patients with GC. In multivariate analyses, SMI was independent predictor of OS but not CSS. NLR was not an independent predictor of either OS or CSS. Complication incidences (≥ Clavien Dindo 3) were non-significantly higher in the low (vs. high) CXI group.

CONCLUSION

CXI was a more valuable prognostic biomarker when compared with SMI or NLR in GC patients undergoing gastrectomy. We suggest that patients with low CXI values should be given more comprehensive treatment, including exercise and nutritional therapy to improve clinical outcomes.

Practical cancer cachexia management in palliative care - a review of current evidence

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

To explore the current evidence relating to the practical management of cancer cachexia in palliative care.

RECENT FINDINGS

The authors found a growing evidence base including the publication of several expert guidelines since 2020. Guidelines identified the need for individualised nutritional and physical exercise support as the mainstay of cachexia management. Dietician and allied health professional referrals are recommended for the best patient outcomes. Limitations of nutritional support and exercise are acknowledged. Patient outcomes from multimodal anti-cachexia therapy are awaited at this time. Communication about the mechanisms of cachexia and nutritional counselling are identified as ways to reduce distress. Evidence supporting the use of pharmacological agents remains insufficient to make recommendations. Corticosteroids and progestins may be offered for symptom relief in refractory cachexia, taking into consideration well-documented side effects. Emphasis is placed on adequately managing nutritional impact symptoms. A specific role for palliative care clinicians and the use of existing palliative care guidelines in managing cancer cachexia were not identified.

SUMMARY

Current evidence recognises the inherently palliative nature of cancer cachexia management, and practical guidance correlates with the tenets of palliative care. Individualised approaches to support nutritional intake, physical exercise and alleviate symptoms that accelerate cachexia processes are currently recommended.

Prognostic significance of the cachexia index in patients with stage I-III colorectal cancer who underwent laparoscopic surgery

PURPOSE

The prognostic significance of the cachexia index, a novel biomarker of cancer cachexia, remains unclear in colorectal cancer; we, therefore, evaluated this relationship.

METHODS

This retrospective cohort study included 306 patients with stage I-III colorectal cancer who underwent R0 resection between April 2010 and March 2020. The cachexia index was calculated as (skeletal muscle index [cm2/m2] × serum albumin level [g/dL])/neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio. The overall and disease-free survival rates were analyzed using a Cox proportional hazards model.

RESULTS

A low cachexia index was found in 94 patients. This group had significantly lower disease-free survival and overall survival than the high-cachexia index group (5-year survival, 86.3% vs. 63.1%, p < 0.01; 87.9% vs. 67.2%, p < 0.01). Multivariate analyses showed that T3 or T4 (hazard ratio [HR]: 2.56; 95% confidence interval CI 1.04-6.25, p = 0.039), stage III (HR: 3.77; 95% CI 1.79-7.93, p < 0.01), and a low cachexia index (HR: 2.27; 95% CI 1.31-3.90, p = 0.003) were significant independent predictors of the disease-free survival. CA19-9 ≥ 37.0 ng/mL (HR: 2.68; 95% CI: 1.37-5.24, p = 0.004), stage III (HR: 2.57; 95% CI 1.34-4.92, p = 0.004), and a low cachexia index (HR: 2.35; 95% CI 1.31-4.21, p = 0.004) were significant independent predictors of the overall survival.

CONCLUSION

A low cachexia index might be a long-term prognostic factor of colorectal cancer.

Cancer Cachexia: ASCO Guideline Rapid Recommendation Update

ASCO Rapid Recommendations Updates highlight revisions to select ASCO guideline recommendations as a response to the emergence of new and practice-changing data. The rapid updates are supported by an evidence review and follow the guideline development processes outlined in the ASCO Guideline Methodology Manual. The goal of these articles is to disseminate updated recommendations, in a timely manner, to better inform health practitioners and the public on the best available cancer care options. See the Appendix for disclaimers and other important information (Appendix 1 and Appendix 2, online only).

Measuring What Is Meaningful in Cancer Cachexia Clinical Trials: A Path Forward With Digital Measures of Real-World Physical Behavior

PURPOSE

The burden of cancer cachexia on patients' health-related quality of life, specifically their physical functioning, is well documented, but clinical trials thus far have failed to show meaningful improvement in physical functioning. The purpose of this review is to summarize existing methods of assessing physical function in cancer cachexia, outline a path forward for measuring what is meaningful to patients using digital measures derived from digital health technologies (DHTs), and discuss the current landscape of digital measures from the clinical and regulatory standpoint.

DESIGN

For this narrative review, peer-reviewed articles were searched on PubMed, clinical trials records were searched on clinicaltrials.gov, and records of digital measures submitted for regulatory qualification were searched on the US Food and Drug Administration's Drug Development Tool Qualification Program database.

RESULTS

There are gaps in assessing aspects of physical function that matter to patients. Existing assessment methods such as patient-reported outcomes and objective performance outcomes have limitations, including their episodic nature and burden to patients. DHTs such as wearable sensors can capture real-world physical behavior continuously, passively, and remotely, and may provide a more comprehensive picture of patients' everyday functioning. Recent regulatory submissions showcase potential clinical implementation of digital measures in various therapeutic areas.

CONCLUSION

Digital measures of real-world physical behavior present an opportunity to detect and demonstrate improvements in physical functioning in cancer cachexia, but evidence-based development is critical. For their use in clinical and regulatory decision making, studies demonstrating meaningfulness to patients as well as feasibility and validation are necessary.

Prevalence and prognostic impact of the coexistence of cachexia and sarcopenia in older patients with heart failure

BACKGROUND

No study with an adequate patients' number has examined the relationship/overlap between sarcopenia and cachexia. We examined the prevalence of the overlap and prognostic implications of sarcopenia and cachexia in older patients with heart failure using well-accepted definitions.

METHODS

This was a post-hoc sub-analysis of the FRAGILE-HF study, a prospective, multicenter, observational study conducted at 15 hospitals in Japan. In total, 905 hospitalized older patients were classified into four groups based on the presence or absence of cachexia and/or sarcopenia, which were defined according to the Evans and Asian Working Group for Sarcopenia criteria revised in 2019, respectively. The primary endpoint was 2-year all-cause mortality.

RESULTS

Cachexia and sarcopenia prevalence rates were 32.7% and 22.7%, respectively. Patients were classified into the non-cachexia/non-sarcopenia (55.7%), cachexia/non-sarcopenia (21.7%), non-cachexia/sarcopenia (11.6%), and cachexia/sarcopenia (11.0%) groups. During the 2-year follow-up period after discharge, 158 (17.5%) all-cause deaths (124 cardiovascular deaths [CVD] and 34 non-CVD) were observed. The cachexia/sarcopenia group had the lowest body fat mass and exhibited significantly higher mortality rates (log-rank P < 0.001). Cox proportional hazard analysis revealed that cachexia/sarcopenia was an independent prognostic factor after adjusting for known prognostic factors (versus non-cachexia/non-sarcopenia: hazard ratio, 2.78; 95% confidence interval, 1.80-4.29; P < 0.001). Neither cachexia/non-sarcopenia nor non-cachexia/sarcopenia were significantly associated with all-cause mortality compared with non-cachexia/non-sarcopenia.

CONCLUSIONS

Cachexia and sarcopenia are prevalent among older hospitalized patients with heart failure; nonetheless, the overlap is not as prominent as previously expected. The presence of cachexia and sarcopenia is a risk factor for all-cause mortality.

Association of a newly developed Cancer Cachexia Score with survival in Stage I-III colorectal cancer

PURPOSE

Cancer cachexia, a complex multifactorial syndrome associated with sarcopenia, negatively affects the quality of life and survival in patients with several cancers. We aimed to develop a new score for cachexia assessment and evaluate its effectiveness in the classification of patients undergoing radical resection for colorectal cancer.

METHODS

This study included 396 patients who underwent radical resection for Stage I-III colorectal cancer. To develop the Cancer Cachexia Score (CCS), we analyzed predictive factors of cachexia status related to the development of sarcopenia and incorporated significant factors into the score. We then evaluated the relationship between CCS and survival after radical resection for colorectal cancer.

RESULTS

As body mass index (P < 0.001), prognostic nutritional index (P = 0.005), and tumor volume (P < 0.001) were significantly associated with the development of sarcopenia, these factors were included in CCS. Using CCS, 221 (56%), 98 (25%), and 77 (19%) patients were diagnosed with mild, moderate, and severe cancer cachexia, respectively. In multivariate analysis, severe CCS (P < 0.001), N stage 1-2 (P < 0.001), and occurrence of postoperative complications (P = 0.007) were independent predictors of disease-free survival. Age ≥ 65 years (P = 0.009), severe CCS (P < 0.001), and N stage 1-2 (P < 0.001) were independent predictors of overall survival.

CONCLUSIONS

CCS may be a useful prognostic factor for predicting poor survival after radical resection in patients with Stage I-III colorectal cancer.

Is There a Need to "Modernize" and "Simplify" the Diagnostic Criteria of Protein-Energy Wasting?

Protein energy wasting(PEW) is a term that most nephrologists used to define nutritional disorders in patients with acute kidney injury and chronic kidney disease. Although this nomenclature is well implemented in the field of nephrology, the use of other terms such as cachexia or malnutritionin the majority of chronic diseases can induce confusion regarding the definition and interpretation of these terms. There is ample evidence in the literature that the pathways involved in cachexia/malnutrition and PEW are common. However, in kidney diseases, there are pathophysiological conditions such as accumulation of uremic toxins, and the use of dialysis, which may induce a phenotypic specificity justifying the original term PEW. In light of the latest epidemiologic studies, the criteria for PEW used in 2008 probably need to be updated. The objective of this review is to summarize the main mechanisms involved in cachexia/malnutrition and PEW. We discuss the need to modernize and simplify the current definition and diagnostic criteria of PEW. We consider the interest of proposing a specific nomenclature of PEW for children and elderly patients with kidney diseases.

Prognostic relevance of gradual weight changes on long-term mortality in chronic heart failure

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

While obesity has been linked to better ouctomes (the obesity paradox), cachexia is associated with higher mortality in patients with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF). As opposed to overt cachexia, little is known about the prognostic impact of gradual, long-term weight changes in stable HFrEF.

METHODS AND RESULTS

We included ambulatory patients with clinically stable chronic HFrEF on individually optimized treatment. Next to other clinical and functional parameters, changes in body weight over the past one (n = 733, group 1) or two (n = 636, group 2) years were recorded. Four-year mortality was analysed with respect to baseline BMI and changes in body weight or BMI using fractional polynomials. In addition, outcome was stratified by BMI categories (18.5-25 kg/m²: normal weight, >25-30 kg/m²: overweight, >30 kg/m²: obesity). An obesity paradox was present in both groups, with overweight and obese patients having the best prognosis. In both groups, a gradual weight gain of 5% was associated with the lowest mortality, whereas mortality steadily increases with increasing weight loss. Excessive weight gain >10% was also related to higher mortality. Stratification by baseline BMI categories revealed that weight loss was most detrimental in normal weight patients, whereas the prognostic impact of weight change was weaker in obese patients.

CONCLUSION

In patients with chronic HFrEF, gradual weight loss is associated with steadily increasing mortality, whereas a weight gain of 5% is related to the best prognosis. Prevention of any inappropriate weight loss might be a therapeutic goal in HFrEF patient care.

Triceps skinfold-albumin index significantly predicts the prognosis of cancer cachexia: A multicentre cohort study

BACKGROUND

The fat mass and nutritional status play important roles in the onset and progression of cancer cachexia. The present study evaluated the joint prognostic value of the fat mass, as indicated by the triceps skinfold thickness (TSF), and the serum albumin level, for mortality in patients with cancer cachexia.

METHODS

We performed a multicentre cohort study including 5134 patients with cancer cachexia from January 2013 to April 2019. The sum of the TSF (mm) and serum albumin (g/L) was defined as the triceps skinfold-albumin index (TA). Harrell's C index, a time-dependent receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis and the area under the curve (AUC) were used to evaluate the prognostic performance of the TA and other indices. Optimal stratification was used to identify the thresholds to define a low TA, and the association of the TA with all-cause mortality was evaluated using Kaplan-Meier analysis and Cox proportional hazard regression models.

RESULTS

The study enrolled 2408 women and 2726 men with a median age of 58.6 years and a median follow-up of 44 months. A total of 607 women (TA < 49.9) and 817 men (TA < 45.6) were classified as having a low TA. The TA showed better discrimination performance (C index = 0.621, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.607-0.636) to predict mortality in patients with cancer cachexia than the handgrip strength, the nutritional risk index, the prognostic nutritional index, the controlling nutritional status index, the systemic immune-inflammation index, the modified Glasgow prognostic score, and the TSF or albumin alone in the study population (all P < 0.05). The 1-, 3- and 5-year time-dependent ROC analyses (AUC = 0.647, 0.625 and 0.630, respectively) showed that the TA had the highest prognostic value among all indices investigated (all P < 0.05). Univariate analysis showed that a lower TA was associated with an increased death hazard (hazard ratio [HR] = 1.859, 95% CI = 1.677-2.062), regardless of the sex and cancer type. Multivariable survival analysis showed that a lower TA was independently associated with an increased death hazard (HR = 1.381, 95% CI = 1.223-1.560). This association was significantly strengthened in patients who did not receive curative chemotherapy (HR = 1.491, 95% CI = 1.298-1.713), those who had higher serum total protein levels (HR = 1.469, 95% CI = 1.284-1.681) and those with better physical performance (HR = 1.453, 95% CI = 1.271-1.662).

CONCLUSIONS

This study defined and evaluated a new prognostic index, the TA, which may improve the selection of intervention strategies to optimize the survival of patients with cancer cachexia.

Development and validation of an online dynamic nomogram system for predicting cancer cachexia among inpatients: a real-world cohort study in China

BACKGROUND

Early recognition of cachexia is essential for ensuring the prompt intervention and treatment of cancer patients. However, the diagnosis of cancer cachexia (CC) usually is delayed. This study aimed to establish an accurate and high-efficiency diagnostic system for CC.

METHODS

A total of 4834 cancer inpatients were enrolled in the INSCOC project from July 2013 to June 2020. All cancer patients in the study were randomly assigned to a development cohort (n=3384, 70%) and a validation cohort (n=1450, 30%). The least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) method and multivariable logistic regression were used to identify the independent predictors for developing the dynamic nomogram. Discrimination and calibration were adopted to evaluate the ability of nomogram. A decision curve analysis (DCA) was used to evaluate clinical use.

RESULTS

We combined 5 independent predictive factors (age, NRS2002, PG-SGA, QOL by the QLQ-C30, and cancer categories) to establish the online dynamic nomogram system. The C-index, sensitivity, and specificity of the nomo-system to predict CC was 0.925 (95%CI, 0.916-0.934, P < 0.001), 0.826, and 0.862 in the development set, while the values were 0.923 (95%CI, 0.909-0.937, P < 0.001), 0.854, and 0.829 in the validation set. In addition, the calibration curves of the diagnostic nomogram also presented good agreement with the actual situation. DCA showed that the model is clinically useful and can increase the clinical benefit in cancer patients.

CONCLUSIONS

This study developed an online dynamic nomogram system with outstanding accuracy to help clinicians and dieticians estimate the probability of cachexia. This simple-to-use online nomogram can increase the clinical benefit in cancer patients and is expected to be widely adopted.

Sarcopenia in urologic oncology: Identification and strategies to improve patient outcomes

Sarcopenia is the loss of muscle mass and function related to aging, undereating, disease conditions, or inactivity. Pre-existing sarcopenia diminishes the functional reserve of patients with cancer which increases their risk for frailty, cancer cachexia, and worse outcomes from treatments. The pathogenesis of sarcopenia is multi-factorial: opening opportunities for clinicians to work across disciplines to improve patient outcomes and quality of life. The purpose of this essay is to describe sarcopenia, discuss clinical screening and assessment for sarcopenia, and highlight potential interventions to manage sarcopenia in the urologic oncology population.

Psychological symptoms of illness and emotional distress in advanced cancer cachexia

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

Cachexia induces both physical and psychological symptoms of illness in patients with advanced cancer and may generate emotional distress in patients and families. However, physical symptoms of cachexia received the most emphasis. The aims of this review are to elucidate a link between systemic inflammation underlying cachexia and psychological symptoms and emotional distress, and to advance care strategy for management of psychological symptoms and emotional distress in patients and families.

RECENT FINDINGS

The main themes in the literature covered by this review are psychological symptoms in patients and emotional distress in patients and families. Studies of the underlying biology of cachexia identify the role of the central nervous system to amplify tumor-induced systemic inflammation. The brain mediates a cluster of symptoms, such as sleep disruption, anxiety, cognitive impairment, and reduction in motivated behavior (notably anorexia). These are distressing to patients as well as to families.

SUMMARY

There is growing recognition that holistic multimodal interventions are needed to alleviate psychological symptoms and emotional distress and to improve quality of life in patients with cancer cachexia and families. This is an approach that addresses not only physical health but also psychological, emotional, and social well being issues.

Nutritional and Exercise Interventions in Cancer-Related Cachexia: An Extensive Narrative Review

One of the common traits found in cancer patients is malnutrition and cachexia, which affects between 25% to 60% of the patients, depending on the type of cancer, diagnosis, and treatment. Given the lack of current effective pharmacological solutions for low muscle mass and sarcopenia, holistic interventions are essential to patient care, as well as exercise and nutrition. Thus, the present narrative review aimed to analyze the nutritional, pharmacological, ergonutritional, and physical exercise strategies in cancer-related cachexia. The integration of multidisciplinary interventions could help to improve the final intervention in patients, improving their prognosis, quality of life, and life expectancy. To reach these aims, an extensive narrative review was conducted. The databases used were MedLine (PubMed), Cochrane (Wiley), Embase, PsychINFO, and CinAhl. Cancer-related cachexia is a complex multifactorial phenomenon in which systemic inflammation plays a key role in the development and maintenance of the symptomatology. Pharmacological interventions seem to produce a positive effect on inflammatory state and cachexia. Nutritional interventions are focused on a high-energy diet with high-density foods and the supplementation with antioxidants, while physical activity is focused on strength-based training. The implementation of multidisciplinary non-pharmacological interventions in cancer-related cachexia could be an important tool to improve traditional treatments and improve patients' quality of life.

Assessment of Cancer-Associated Cachexia - How to Approach Physical Function Evaluation

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

Cachexia is a devastating syndrome that impacts a majority of cancer patients. Early assessment of cachexia is critical to implementing cachexia treatments. Our aim was to summarize the existing cachexia assessment tools for their utility in both symptom and function evaluation.

RECENT FINDINGS

Several tools now exist that provide a symptom-based approach for evaluating weight change, appetite, and nutrition impact symptoms in cancer patients with cachexia. However, current instruments used to assess physical function changes related to cachexia are limited in depth and breadth. Instead, we recommend a tiered approach to cachexia-related functional assessment that involves evaluation of activities of daily living, general mobility, and exercise tolerance in a prioritized sequence. Current tools for cancer-associated cachexia assessment are adept at symptom evaluation. New approaches to physical function evaluation are needed that efficiently and broadly evaluate the diverse functional needs of cachexia patients.

Sarcopenia and cachexia in chronic diseases: from mechanisms to treatment

The two main manifestations of wasting disorders in chronic disease are cachexia and sarcopenia. Due to sharing common pathological features, including impairments in systemic inflammation responses, neurohormonal activity, and metabolic systems, the two disorders can present with similar symptoms (tissue depletion, dyspnoea, anorexia, asthenia, fatigue, and impaired physical performance). Wasting disorders are associated with reduced quality of life and increased mortality. Cachexia is characterized by systemic tissue depletion with weight loss and sarcopenia by skeletal muscle loss accompanied by diminished muscular strength and physical performance. Wasting syndromes can be identified through clinical criteria but also through multiple imaging and diagnostic techniques. Additionally, blood biomarkers can be used for diagnosing wasting disorders. In the past decade, intensive research has focused on new therapeutic strategies within a multimodal approach, which embraces nutritional support, physical activity, and targeted pharmacological therapy. Despite some promising first therapeutic results for selected novel agents, a guideline-recommended pharmacological therapy is not yet available for cachexia or sarcopenia. More research is needed to better understand and thereby learn how to treat these wasting disorders.

Cachexia in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus: Risk Factors and Relation to Disease Activity and Damage

OBJECTIVE

Cachexia is a disorder characterized by involuntary weight loss in addition to loss of homeostatic control of both energy and protein balance. Despite an abundance of data from other inflammatory diseases, cachexia in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) remains a largely undescribed syndrome. The present study was undertaken to define the prevalence of cachexia in SLE and to identify the main factors that place patients at risk of developing cachexia.

METHODS

A total of 2,452 patients in a prospective SLE cohort had their weight assessed at each visit. Patients were categorized into 5 predetermined groups based on weight. Cachexia was defined based on modified Fearon criteria (5% stable weight loss in 6 months without starvation relative to the average weight in all prior visits and/or a weight loss of >2% without starvation relative to the average weight in all prior cohort visits and a body mass index [BMI] of <20 kg/m2 ). Risk of cachexia within 5 years of cohort entry was based on Kaplan-Meier estimates. The association of prior disease manifestations with risk of cachexia adjusted by current steroid use was determined using Cox regression. An analysis of variance test was used to determine whether Systemic Lupus International Collaborating Clinics/American College of Rheumatology Damage Index (SDI) scores varied based on cachexia status.

RESULTS

Within 5 years of cohort entry, 56% of patients developed cachexia, 18% of which never recovered their weight during follow-up. The risk factors for cachexia development were a BMI of <20 kg/m2 , current steroid use, vasculitis, lupus nephritis, serositis, hematologic lupus manifestations, positive anti-double-stranded DNA, anti-Sm, and anti-RNP. Patients with intermittent cachexia had significantly higher SDI scores compared to those with continuous cachexia or without cachexia.

CONCLUSION

Cachexia is an underrecognized syndrome in patients with SLE. SLE patients with intermittent cachexia have the highest risk of future organ damage.

[Cachexia - A Cluster of Losses]

Cachexia - A Cluster of Losses Abstract. Cachexia occurs in Cancer and other incurable diseases. Cachexia is regularly underdiagnosed and undertreated. The syndrome is defined by weight-loss, which is also caused by loss of muscle mass. The underlying cause is reason a systemic inflammation. It is associated with symptoms such as loss of appetite and is causing distress in patients and their families. Adequate staging and a multimodal therapy include treatment of the underlying disease, supportive measures and nutrition and exercise issues. At the end of life, symptom control and psychosocial support are most important.

Polymorphism of the ITGAM gene (rs7193943) and bioelectric impedance analysis as potential predictors of cachexia in chronic heart failure

Cardiac cachexia (CC) is an unfavorable metabolic syndrome leading to exacerbation of chronic heart failure (CHF) and a higher risk of death. The main factor contributing to the development of cachexia is the ongoing inflammatory process mediated by genes (e.g. Integrin Subunit Alpha M-ITGAM). The study aimed to assess the relationship between a single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) -323G > A of the ITGAM and the occurrence of nutritional disorders in patients with CHF. 157 CHF patients underwent clinical and nutritional screening. Body composition was evaluated by bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA). Patients with cachexia were characterized by significantly lower weight, body mass index (BMI), lower fat mass (FM), albumin, and hemoglobin. Lower values of BIA parameters: capacitance of membrane (Cm), phase angle (PA), and impedance ratio (Z200/Z5) were noted in women. Those patients demonstrated significantly higher values of creatinine, c-reactive protein (CRP), N-terminal prohormone of brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP), and pulmonary artery systolic pressure (PASP). A significantly higher risk of cachexia was reported in patients: aged ≥ 74 years (OR 3.55), with renal failure (OR 3.75), New York Heart Association classification (NYHA) III-IV (OR 2.83), with moderate or severe malnutrition according to the score of subjective global assessment (SGA) (OR 19.01) and AA genotype of ITGAM gene (OR 2.03). Determination of the -323G > A SNP in the ITGAM may prove to be a useful marker (after confirmation in further studies and appropriate validation) in the assessment of the risk of nutritional disorders in patients with CHF.

Liquid Biopsy for Cancer Cachexia: Focus on Muscle-Derived microRNAs

Cancer cachexia displays a complex nature in which systemic inflammation, impaired energy metabolism, loss of muscle and adipose tissues result in unintentional body weight loss. Cachectic patients have a poor prognosis and the presence of cachexia reduces the tolerability of chemo/radio-therapy treatments and it is frequently the primary cause of death in advanced cancer patients. Early detection of this condition could make treatments more effective. However, early diagnostic biomarkers of cachexia are currently lacking. In recent years, although solid biopsy still remains the "gold standard" for diagnosis of cancer, liquid biopsy is gaining increasing interest as a source of easily accessible potential biomarkers. Moreover, the growing interest in circulating microRNAs (miRNAs), has made these molecules attractive for the diagnosis of several diseases, including cancer. Some muscle-derived circulating miRNA might play a pivotal role in the onset/progression of cancer cachexia. This topic is of great interest since circulating miRNAs might be easily detectable by means of liquid biopsies and might allow an early diagnosis of this syndrome. We here summarize the current knowledge on circulating muscular miRNAs involved in muscle atrophy, since they might represent easily accessible and promising biomarkers of cachexia.

Cancer Cachexia: Its Mechanism and Clinical Significance

The term “cachexia” is derived from the Greek words kakos (bad) and hexis (habit). Cachexia is a malnutrition associated with chronic diseases such as cancer, chronic heart failure, chronic renal failure, and autoimmune diseases, and is characterized by decreased skeletal muscle mass. Cancer cachexia is quite common in patients with advanced cancer. Weight loss is also a characteristic symptom of cancer cachexia, along with decreased skeletal muscle mass. As nutritional supplementation alone cannot improve cachexia, cytokines and tumor-derived substances have been attracting attention as its relevant factors. Cancer cachexia can be also associated with reduced chemotherapeutic effects, increased side effects and treatment interruptions, and even poorer survival. In 2011, a consensus definition of cachexia has been proposed, and the number of relevant research reports has increased significantly. However, the pathogenesis of cachexia is not fully understood, and there are currently few regulatory-approved standard treatments for cachexia. The main reason for this is that multiple etiologies are involved in the development of cachexia. In this review, we will outline the current status of cachexia, the mechanisms of which have been elucidated in recent years, especially from the perspective of advanced cancer.