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Ispoglou T, McCullough D, Windle A, Nair S, Cox N, White H, Burke D, Kanatas A, Prokopidis K. Addressing cancer anorexia-cachexia in older patients: Potential therapeutic strategies and molecular pathways. Clin Nutr 2024; 43:552-566. [PMID: 38237369 DOI: 10.1016/j.clnu.2024.01.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2022] [Revised: 01/04/2024] [Accepted: 01/10/2024] [Indexed: 02/03/2024]
Abstract
Cancer cachexia (CC) syndrome, a feature of cancer-associated muscle wasting, is particularly pronounced in older patients, and is characterised by decreased energy intake and upregulated skeletal muscle catabolic pathways. To address CC, appetite stimulants, anabolic drugs, cytokine mediators, essential amino acid supplementation, nutritional counselling, cognitive behavioural therapy, and enteral nutrition have been utilised. However, pharmacological treatments that have also shown promising results, such as megestrol acetate, anamorelin, thalidomide, and delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol, have been associated with gastrointestinal and cardiovascular complications. Emerging evidence on the efficacy of probiotics in modulating gut microbiota also presents a promising adjunct to traditional therapies, potentially enhancing nutritional absorption and systemic inflammation control. Additionally, low-dose olanzapine has demonstrated improved appetite and weight management in older patients undergoing chemotherapy, offering a potential refinement to current therapeutic approaches. This review aims to elucidate the molecular mechanisms underpinning CC, with a particular focus on the role of anorexia in exacerbating muscle wasting, and to propose pharmacological and non-pharmacological strategies to mitigate this syndrome, particularly emphasising the needs of an older demographic. Future research targeting CC should focus on refining appetite-stimulating drugs with fewer side-effects, specifically catering to the needs of older patients, and investigating nutritional factors that can either enhance appetite or minimise suppression of appetite in individuals with CC, especially within this vulnerable group.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Angela Windle
- Department of Nursing and Midwifery, School of Human and Health Sciences, University of Huddersfield, Huddersfield, UK; School of Medicine, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK
| | | | - Natalie Cox
- Academic Geriatric Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK
| | - Helen White
- School of Health, Leeds Beckett University, Leeds, UK
| | - Dermot Burke
- School of Medicine, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK
| | | | - Konstantinos Prokopidis
- Department of Musculoskeletal and Ageing Science, Institute of Life Course and Medical Sciences, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK; Liverpool Centre for Cardiovascular Science, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK
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Roberto M, Barchiesi G, Resuli B, Verrico M, Speranza I, Cristofani L, Pediconi F, Tomao F, Botticelli A, Santini D. Sarcopenia in Breast Cancer Patients: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Cancers (Basel) 2024; 16:596. [PMID: 38339347 PMCID: PMC10854936 DOI: 10.3390/cancers16030596] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/06/2024] [Revised: 01/20/2024] [Accepted: 01/23/2024] [Indexed: 02/12/2024] Open
Abstract
(1) Background: We estimated the prevalence and clinical outcomes of sarcopenia among breast cancer patients. (2) Methods: A systematic literature search was carried out for the period between July 2023 and October 2023. Studies with breast cancer patients evaluated for sarcopenia in relation to overall survival (OS), progression-free survival (PFS), relapse of disease (DFS), pathological complete response (pCR), or toxicity to chemotherapy were included. (3) Results: Out of 359 screened studies, 16 were eligible for meta-analysis, including 6130 patients, of whom 5284 with non-MBC. Sarcopenia was evaluated with the computed tomography (CT) scan skeletal muscle index and, in two studies, with the dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) appendicular lean mass index. Using different classifications and cut-off points, overall, there were 2007 sarcopenic patients (33%), of whom 1901 (95%) presented with non-MBC. Sarcopenia was associated with a 33% and 29% higher risk of mortality and progression/relapse of disease, respectively. Sarcopenic patients were more likely to develop grade 3-4 toxicity (OR 3.58, 95% CI 2.11-6.06, p < 0.0001). In the neoadjuvant setting, a higher rate of pCR was observed among sarcopenic patients (49%) (OR 2.74, 95% CI 0.92-8.22). (4) Conclusions: Our meta-analysis confirms the correlation between sarcopenia and negative outcomes, especially in terms of higher toxicity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michela Roberto
- UOC Oncologia A, Department of Hematology, Oncology and Dermatology, Policlinico Umberto I University Hospital, Sapienza University o f Rome, Viale Regina Elena, 324, 00161 Rome, Italy; (M.R.); (G.B.); (M.V.); (I.S.); (L.C.); (A.B.); (D.S.)
| | - Giacomo Barchiesi
- UOC Oncologia A, Department of Hematology, Oncology and Dermatology, Policlinico Umberto I University Hospital, Sapienza University o f Rome, Viale Regina Elena, 324, 00161 Rome, Italy; (M.R.); (G.B.); (M.V.); (I.S.); (L.C.); (A.B.); (D.S.)
| | - Blerina Resuli
- Department of Medicine V, University Hospital Munich, Ziemssenstraße 5, 80336 Munich, Germany
| | - Monica Verrico
- UOC Oncologia A, Department of Hematology, Oncology and Dermatology, Policlinico Umberto I University Hospital, Sapienza University o f Rome, Viale Regina Elena, 324, 00161 Rome, Italy; (M.R.); (G.B.); (M.V.); (I.S.); (L.C.); (A.B.); (D.S.)
| | - Iolanda Speranza
- UOC Oncologia A, Department of Hematology, Oncology and Dermatology, Policlinico Umberto I University Hospital, Sapienza University o f Rome, Viale Regina Elena, 324, 00161 Rome, Italy; (M.R.); (G.B.); (M.V.); (I.S.); (L.C.); (A.B.); (D.S.)
| | - Leonardo Cristofani
- UOC Oncologia A, Department of Hematology, Oncology and Dermatology, Policlinico Umberto I University Hospital, Sapienza University o f Rome, Viale Regina Elena, 324, 00161 Rome, Italy; (M.R.); (G.B.); (M.V.); (I.S.); (L.C.); (A.B.); (D.S.)
| | - Federica Pediconi
- Department of Radiological, Oncological and Pathological Sciences, Sapienza University of Rome, Viale Regina Elena, 324, 00161 Rome, Italy;
| | - Federica Tomao
- Department of Maternal and Child Health and Urological Sciences, Sapienza University of Rome, Viale Regina Elena, 324, 00161 Rome, Italy;
| | - Andrea Botticelli
- UOC Oncologia A, Department of Hematology, Oncology and Dermatology, Policlinico Umberto I University Hospital, Sapienza University o f Rome, Viale Regina Elena, 324, 00161 Rome, Italy; (M.R.); (G.B.); (M.V.); (I.S.); (L.C.); (A.B.); (D.S.)
| | - Daniele Santini
- UOC Oncologia A, Department of Hematology, Oncology and Dermatology, Policlinico Umberto I University Hospital, Sapienza University o f Rome, Viale Regina Elena, 324, 00161 Rome, Italy; (M.R.); (G.B.); (M.V.); (I.S.); (L.C.); (A.B.); (D.S.)
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