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Morena F, Cabrera AR, Greene NP. Exploring heterogeneity: a dive into preclinical models of cancer cachexia. Am J Physiol Cell Physiol 2024; 327:C310-C328. [PMID: 38853648 PMCID: PMC11427020 DOI: 10.1152/ajpcell.00317.2024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2024] [Revised: 05/31/2024] [Accepted: 05/31/2024] [Indexed: 06/11/2024]
Abstract
Cancer cachexia (CC) is a multifactorial and complex syndrome experienced by up to 80% of patients with cancer and implicated in ∼40% of cancer-related deaths. Given its significant impact on patients' quality of life and prognosis, there has been a growing emphasis on elucidating the underlying mechanisms of CC using preclinical models. However, the mechanisms of cachexia appear to differ across several variables including tumor type and model and biologic variables such as sex. These differences may be exacerbated by variance in experimental approaches and data reporting. This review examines literature spanning from 2011 to March 2024, focusing on common preclinical models of CC, including Lewis Lung Carcinoma, pancreatic KPC, and colorectal colon-26 and Apcmin/+ models. Our analysis reveals considerable heterogeneity in phenotypic outcomes, and investigated mechanisms within each model, with particular attention to sex differences that may be exacerbated through methodological differences. Although searching for unified mechanisms is critical, we posit that effective treatment approaches are likely to leverage the heterogeneity presented by the tumor and pertinent biological variables to direct specific interventions. In exploring this heterogeneity, it becomes critical to consider methodological and data reporting approaches to best inform further research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francielly Morena
- Cachexia Research Laboratory, Exercise Science Research Center, Department of Health, Human Performance and Recreation, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, Arkansas, United States
| | - Ana Regina Cabrera
- Cachexia Research Laboratory, Exercise Science Research Center, Department of Health, Human Performance and Recreation, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, Arkansas, United States
| | - Nicholas P Greene
- Cachexia Research Laboratory, Exercise Science Research Center, Department of Health, Human Performance and Recreation, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, Arkansas, United States
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Park MA, Whelan CJ, Ahmed S, Boeringer T, Brown J, Crowder SL, Gage K, Gregg C, Jeong DK, Jim HSL, Judge AR, Mason TM, Parker N, Pillai S, Qayyum A, Rajasekhara S, Rasool G, Tinsley SM, Schabath MB, Stewart P, West J, McDonald P, Permuth JB. Defining and Addressing Research Priorities in Cancer Cachexia through Transdisciplinary Collaboration. Cancers (Basel) 2024; 16:2364. [PMID: 39001427 PMCID: PMC11240731 DOI: 10.3390/cancers16132364] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/29/2024] [Revised: 06/19/2024] [Accepted: 06/24/2024] [Indexed: 07/16/2024] Open
Abstract
For many patients, the cancer continuum includes a syndrome known as cancer-associated cachexia (CAC), which encompasses the unintended loss of body weight and muscle mass, and is often associated with fat loss, decreased appetite, lower tolerance and poorer response to treatment, poor quality of life, and reduced survival. Unfortunately, there are no effective therapeutic interventions to completely reverse cancer cachexia and no FDA-approved pharmacologic agents; hence, new approaches are urgently needed. In May of 2022, researchers and clinicians from Moffitt Cancer Center held an inaugural retreat on CAC that aimed to review the state of the science, identify knowledge gaps and research priorities, and foster transdisciplinary collaborative research projects. This review summarizes research priorities that emerged from the retreat, examples of ongoing collaborations, and opportunities to move science forward. The highest priorities identified include the need to (1) evaluate patient-reported outcome (PRO) measures obtained in clinical practice and assess their use in improving CAC-related outcomes; (2) identify biomarkers (imaging, molecular, and/or behavioral) and novel analytic approaches to accurately predict the early onset of CAC and its progression; and (3) develop and test interventions (pharmacologic, nutritional, exercise-based, and through mathematical modeling) to prevent CAC progression and improve associated symptoms and outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Margaret A. Park
- Department of Gastrointestinal Oncology, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute, Tampa, FL 33612, USA;
- Department of Biostatistics and Bioinformatics, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute, Tampa, FL 33612, USA;
| | - Christopher J. Whelan
- Department of Metabolism and Cancer Physiology, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute, Tampa, FL 33612, USA;
| | - Sabeen Ahmed
- Department of Machine Learning, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute, Tampa, FL 33612, USA; (S.A.); (G.R.)
| | - Tabitha Boeringer
- Department of Drug Discovery, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute, Tampa, FL 33612, USA; (T.B.); (S.P.)
| | - Joel Brown
- Department of Cancer Biology and Evolution, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute, Tampa, FL 33612, USA; (J.B.); (J.W.)
- Department of Integrated Mathematical Oncology, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute, Tampa, FL 33612, USA
| | - Sylvia L. Crowder
- Department of Health Outcomes and Behavior, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute, Tampa, FL 33612, USA; (S.L.C.); (H.S.L.J.); (N.P.); (S.M.T.)
| | - Kenneth Gage
- Department of Diagnostic Imaging and Interventional Radiology, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute, Tampa, FL 33612, USA; (K.G.); (D.K.J.); (A.Q.)
| | - Christopher Gregg
- School of Medicine, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT 84113, USA;
| | - Daniel K. Jeong
- Department of Diagnostic Imaging and Interventional Radiology, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute, Tampa, FL 33612, USA; (K.G.); (D.K.J.); (A.Q.)
| | - Heather S. L. Jim
- Department of Health Outcomes and Behavior, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute, Tampa, FL 33612, USA; (S.L.C.); (H.S.L.J.); (N.P.); (S.M.T.)
| | - Andrew R. Judge
- Department of Physical Therapy, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA;
| | - Tina M. Mason
- Department of Nursing Research, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute, Tampa, FL 33612, USA;
| | - Nathan Parker
- Department of Health Outcomes and Behavior, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute, Tampa, FL 33612, USA; (S.L.C.); (H.S.L.J.); (N.P.); (S.M.T.)
| | - Smitha Pillai
- Department of Drug Discovery, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute, Tampa, FL 33612, USA; (T.B.); (S.P.)
| | - Aliya Qayyum
- Department of Diagnostic Imaging and Interventional Radiology, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute, Tampa, FL 33612, USA; (K.G.); (D.K.J.); (A.Q.)
| | - Sahana Rajasekhara
- Department of Supportive Care Medicine, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute, Tampa, FL 33612, USA;
| | - Ghulam Rasool
- Department of Machine Learning, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute, Tampa, FL 33612, USA; (S.A.); (G.R.)
| | - Sara M. Tinsley
- Department of Health Outcomes and Behavior, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute, Tampa, FL 33612, USA; (S.L.C.); (H.S.L.J.); (N.P.); (S.M.T.)
- Department of Malignant Hematology, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute, Tampa, FL 33612, USA
| | - Matthew B. Schabath
- Department of Cancer Epidemiology, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute, Tampa, FL 33612, USA;
| | - Paul Stewart
- Department of Biostatistics and Bioinformatics, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute, Tampa, FL 33612, USA;
| | - Jeffrey West
- Department of Cancer Biology and Evolution, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute, Tampa, FL 33612, USA; (J.B.); (J.W.)
- Department of Integrated Mathematical Oncology, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute, Tampa, FL 33612, USA
| | - Patricia McDonald
- Department of Metabolism and Cancer Physiology, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute, Tampa, FL 33612, USA;
- Lexicon Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Woodlands, TX 77381, USA
| | - Jennifer B. Permuth
- Department of Gastrointestinal Oncology, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute, Tampa, FL 33612, USA;
- Department of Cancer Epidemiology, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute, Tampa, FL 33612, USA;
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Cui P, Li X, Huang C, Lin D. Metabolomics-driven discovery of therapeutic targets for cancer cachexia. J Cachexia Sarcopenia Muscle 2024; 15:781-793. [PMID: 38644205 PMCID: PMC11154780 DOI: 10.1002/jcsm.13465] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2023] [Revised: 12/07/2023] [Accepted: 01/09/2024] [Indexed: 04/23/2024] Open
Abstract
Cancer cachexia (CC) is a devastating metabolic syndrome characterized by skeletal muscle wasting and body weight loss, posing a significant burden on the health and survival of cancer patients. Despite ongoing efforts, effective treatments for CC are still lacking. Metabolomics, an advanced omics technique, offers a comprehensive analysis of small-molecule metabolites involved in cellular metabolism. In CC research, metabolomics has emerged as a valuable tool for identifying diagnostic biomarkers, unravelling molecular mechanisms and discovering potential therapeutic targets. A comprehensive search strategy was implemented to retrieve relevant articles from primary databases, including Web of Science, Google Scholar, Scopus and PubMed, for CC and metabolomics. Recent advancements in metabolomics have deepened our understanding of CC by uncovering key metabolic signatures and elucidating underlying mechanisms. By targeting crucial metabolic pathways including glucose metabolism, amino acid metabolism, fatty acid metabolism, bile acid metabolism, ketone body metabolism, steroid metabolism and mitochondrial energy metabolism, it becomes possible to restore metabolic balance and alleviate CC symptoms. This review provides a comprehensive summary of metabolomics studies in CC, focusing on the discovery of potential therapeutic targets and the evaluation of modulating specific metabolic pathways for CC treatment. By harnessing the insights derived from metabolomics, novel interventions for CC can be developed, leading to improved patient outcomes and enhanced quality of life.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pengfei Cui
- College of Food and PharmacyXuchang UniversityXuchangChina
| | - Xiaoyi Li
- Xuchang Central HospitalXuchangChina
| | - Caihua Huang
- Research and Communication Center of Exercise and HealthXiamen University of TechnologyXiamenChina
| | - Donghai Lin
- Key Laboratory for Chemical Biology of Fujian Province, MOE Key Laboratory of Spectrochemical Analysis and Instrumentation, College of Chemistry and Chemical EngineeringXiamen UniversityXiamenChina
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