Current pharmacotherapy options for cancer anorexia and cachexia

Cancer cachexia: molecular mechanism and pharmacological management

Cancer cachexia often occurs in malignant tumors and is a multifactorial and complex symptom characterized by wasting of skeletal muscle and adipose tissue, resulting in weight loss, poor life quality and shorter survival. The pathogenic mechanism of cancer cachexia is complex, involving a variety of molecular substrates and signal pathways. Advancements in understanding the molecular mechanisms of cancer cachexia have provided a platform for the development of new targeted therapies. Although recent outcomes of early-phase trials have showed that several drugs presented an ideal curative effect, monotherapy cannot be entirely satisfactory in the treatment of cachexia-associated symptoms due to its complex and multifactorial pathogenesis. Therefore, the lack of definitive therapeutic strategies for cancer cachexia emphasizes the need to develop a better understanding of the underlying mechanisms. Increasing evidences show that the progression of cachexia is associated with metabolic alternations, which mainly include excessive energy expenditure, increased proteolysis and mitochondrial dysfunction. In this review, we provided an overview of the key mechanisms of cancer cachexia, with a major focus on muscle atrophy, adipose tissue wasting, anorexia and fatigue and updated the latest progress of pharmacological management of cancer cachexia, thereby further advancing the interventions that can counteract cancer cachexia.

Cachexia as Evidence of the Mechanisms of Resistance and Tolerance during the Evolution of Cancer Disease

During its evolution, cancer induces changes in patients’ energy metabolism that strongly affect the overall clinical state and are responsible for cancer-related cachexia syndrome. To better understand the mechanisms underlying cachexia and its metabolic derangements, research efforts should focus on the events that are driven by the immune system activation during the evolution of neoplastic disease and on the phenomena of “resistance” and “tolerance” typically involved in the human body response against stress, pathogens, or cancer. Indeed, in the case where resistance is not able to eliminate the cancer, tolerance mechanisms can utilize the symptoms of cachexia (anemia, anorexia, and fatigue) to counteract unregulated cancer growth. These notions are also sustained by the evidence that cancer cachexia may be reversible if the resistance and tolerance phases are supported by appropriate antineoplastic treatments. Accordingly, there is no doubt that anticachectic therapies have an irreplaceable role in cases of reversible cancer cachexia where, if harmoniously associated with effective antineoplastic therapies, they can contribute to preserve the quality of life and improve prognosis. Such anticachectic treatments should be based on targeting the complex immunological, inflammatory, and metabolic pathways involved in the complex pathogenesis of cachexia. Meanwhile, the role of the anticachectic therapies is very different in the stage of irreversible cachexia when the available antineoplastic treatments are not able to control the disease and the resistance mechanisms fail with the prevalence of the tolerance phenomena. At this stage, they can be useful only to improve the quality of life, allowing the patient and their family to get a better awareness of the final phases of life, thereby opening to the best spiritual remodulation of the final event, death.

COVID-19 and cytokine storm syndrome: can what we know about interleukin-6 in ovarian cancer be applied?

Improving early diagnosis along with timely and effective treatment of COVID-19 are urgently needed. However, at present, the mechanisms underlying disease spread and development, defined prognosis, and immune status of patients with COVID-19 remain to be determined. Patients with severe disease state exhibit a hyperinflammatory response associated with cytokine storm syndrome, hypercoagulability, and depressed cell-mediated immunity. These clinical manifestations, sharing similar pathogenesis, have been well-studied in patients with advanced ovarian cancer. The present review suggests treatment approaches for COVID-19 based on strategies used against ovarian cancer, which shares similar immunopathology and associated coagulation disorders.The chronicization of the hyperinflammatory cytokine storm in patients with severe COVID-19 highlights a defective resistance phase that leads to aspecific chronic inflammation, associated with oxidative stress, which impairs specific T-cell response, induces tissue and endothelial damage, and thrombosis associated with systemic effects that lead to severe multi-organ failure and death. These events are similar to those observed in advanced ovarian cancer which share similar pathogenesis mediated primarily by Interleukin-6, which is, as well demonstrated in ovarian cancer, the key cytokine driving the immunopathology, related systemic symptoms, and patient prognosis.Consistent with findings in other disease models with similar immunopathology, such as advanced ovarian cancer, treatment of severe COVID-19 infection should target inflammation, oxidative stress, coagulation disorders, and immunodepression to improve patient outcome. Correctly identifying disease stages, based on available laboratory data, and developing a specific protocol for each phase is essential for effective treatment.

Muscle alterations in the development and progression of cancer-induced muscle atrophy: a review

Cancer cachexia-cancer-associated body weight and muscle loss-is a significant predictor of mortality and morbidity in cancer patients across a variety of cancer types. However, despite the negative prognosis associated with cachexia onset, there are no clinical therapies approved to treat or prevent cachexia. This lack of treatment may be partially due to the relative dearth of literature on mechanisms occurring within the muscle before the onset of muscle wasting. Therefore, the purpose of this review is to compile the current scientific literature on mechanisms contributing to the development and progression of cancer cachexia, including protein turnover, inflammatory signaling, and mitochondrial dysfunction. We define "development" as changes in cell function occurring before the onset of cachexia and "progression" as alterations to cell function that coincide with the exacerbation of muscle wasting. Overall, the current literature suggests that multiple aspects of cellular function, such as protein turnover, inflammatory signaling, and mitochondrial quality, are altered before the onset of muscle loss during cancer cachexia and clearly highlights the need to study more thoroughly the developmental stages of cachexia. The studying of these early aberrations will allow for the development of effective therapeutics to prevent the onset of cachexia and improve health outcomes in cancer patients.

Oral Intake of Royal Jelly Has Protective Effects Against Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitor-Induced Toxicity in Patients with Renal Cell Carcinoma: A Randomized, Double-Blinded, Placebo-Controlled Trial

Background: Although tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) are still recommended as the standard therapy in renal cell carcinoma (RCC), the high frequency of adverse events is a weakness of this therapy. Because royal jelly (RJ) possesses anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, we assessed its protective effects on TKI-induced toxicities in RCC patients. Methods: We enrolled 33 patients with advanced RCC who were assigned to start TKI therapy in combination with a randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled RJ trial consisting of a placebo group with 17 subjects and an RJ group with 16 subjects. Results: Fatigue and anorexia frequencies in the RJ group were significantly lower than in the placebo group (p = 0.003 and 0.015, respectively). A statistically significant correlation between RJ and fatigue or anorexia was detected in sunitinib-treated patients. The dose reduction- or discontinuation-free periods were significantly longer (p = 0.013) in the RJ group than in the placebo group. Furthermore, similar observations were made in sunitinib-treated patients (p = 0.016). Conclusions: Our clinical trial showed that RJ exerted protective effects against TKI-induced fatigue and anorexia and lowered TKI dose reduction or discontinuation. Hence, RJ is beneficial for maintaining the quality of life and medication compliance in TKI-treated RCC patients.

Cancer cachexia: Diagnosis, assessment, and treatment

Cancer cachexia is a multi-factorial syndrome, which negatively affects quality of life, responsiveness to chemotherapy, and survival in advanced cancer patients. Our understanding of cachexia has grown greatly in recent years and the roles of many tumor-derived and host-derived compounds have been elucidated as mediators of cancer cachexia. However, cancer cachexia remains an unmet medical need and attempts towards a standard treatment guideline have been unsuccessful. This review covers the diagnosis, assessment, and treatment of cancer cachexia; the elements impeding the formulation of a standard management guideline; and future directions of research for the improvement and standardization of current treatment procedures.

Update on Management of Cancer-Related Cachexia

Cachexia is a metabolic syndrome driven by inflammation and characterized by loss of muscle with or without loss of fat mass. In cancer cachexia, the tumor burden and host response induce increased inflammation, decreased anabolic tone, and suppressed appetite leading to the clinical presentation of reduced body weight and quality of life (QOL). There is no approved treatment for cancer cachexia, and commonly used nutritional and anti-inflammatory strategies alone have proven ineffective for management of symptoms. Several other pharmacological agents are currently in development and have shown promise as a clinical strategy in early-phase trials. Recently, it has been proposed that multimodal strategies, with an anabolic focus, initiated early in the disease/treatment progression may provide the most therapeutic potential for symptom management. Here we review the data from recent clinical trials in cancer cachexia including pharmacological, exercise, and nutritional interventions.

Obesity Paradox in Lung Cancer Prognosis: Evolving Biological Insights and Clinical Implications

The survival rate of lung cancer remains low despite the progress of surgery and chemotherapy. With the increasing comorbidity of obesity in patients with lung cancer, new challenges are emerging in the management of this patient population. A key issue of interest is the prognostic effect of obesity on surgical and chemotherapeutic outcomes in patients with lung cancer, which is fueled by the growing observation of survival benefits in overweight or obese patients. This unexpected inverse relationship between obesity and lung cancer mortality, called the obesity paradox, remains poorly understood. The evolving insights into the heterogeneity of obesity phenotypes and associated biological connections with lung cancer progression in recent years may help explain some of the seemingly paradoxical relationship, and well-designed clinical studies looking at the causal role of obesity-associated molecules are expected. Here, we examine potential biological mechanisms behind the protective effects of obesity in lung cancer. We highlight the need to clarify the clinical implications of this relationship toward an updated intervention strategy in the clinical care of patients with lung cancer and obesity.

The emerging role of anamorelin hydrochloride in the management of patients with cancer anorexia-cachexia

Cancer cachexia affects many patients with advanced cancer. This multifactorial syndrome, which involves loss of muscle mass and body weight, profoundly affects patients' physical functioning and quality of life. Pharmacologic interventions that target weight loss and also improve patient-reported measures are required. Anamorelin hydrochloride is an oral ghrelin receptor agonist for the treatment of cancer anorexia-cachexia that stimulates release of growth hormone and insulin-like growth factor 1, and improves food intake and body weight. Phase II and III trials have demonstrated that anamorelin increases body muscle and fat composition, and improves patient-reported appetite and quality of life. Anamorelin shows promise as an anabolic agent with benefits maintained over time, without the virilizing side effects of other anabolic medications.

Two ghrelin receptor agonists for adults with malnutrition: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Background

Ghrelin receptor agonists have been established to be important in ameliorating the nutritional conditions in patients with malnutrition. However, some studies have reported inconsistent results. We aimed to coalesce the available evidence on the efficacy of ghrelin receptor agonists for the treatment of malnutrition.

Methods

We searched PubMed, the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, and EMBASE for relevant articles published through March 2016. Studies comparing the efficacy of ghrelin receptor agonists versus placebo in malnourished patients were eligible for inclusion.

Results

A total of 12 studies involving 1377 patients were included. Compared with placebo, ghrelin receptor agonists could increase the energy intake (standard mean difference [SMD] 2.67, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.48 to 3.85, P < 0.001), lean body mass (weighted mean difference [WMD] 0.25 kg, 95% CI 0.07 to 0.42, P = 0.006), fat mass (WMD 0.92 kg, 95% CI 0.05 to 1.8, P = 0.038), and grip strength (WMD 0.31 kg, 95% CI 0.207 to 0.414, P < 0.001) of patients with malnutrition.

Conclusion

Our analysis indicated that ghrelin receptor agonists could improve the poor nutritional state of malnourished patients by increasing their energy intake, ameliorating their irregular body composition and improving their grip strength. However, these results might be less conclusive due to the limited sample sizes and one potential publication that has not been released.

Effects of Dexamethasone and Placebo on Symptom Clusters in Advanced Cancer Patients: A Preliminary Report

OBJECTIVE

Advanced cancer patients frequently experience debilitating symptoms that occur in clusters, but few pharmacological studies have targeted symptom clusters. Our objective was to examine the effects of dexamethasone on symptom clusters in patients with advanced cancer.

METHODS

We reviewed the data from a previous randomized clinical trial to determine the effects of dexamethasone on cancer symptoms. Symptom clusters were identified according to baseline symptoms by using principal component analysis. Correlations and change in the severity of symptom clusters were analyzed after study treatment.

RESULTS

A total of 114 participants were included in this study. Three clusters were identified: fatigue/anorexia-cachexia/depression (FAD), sleep/anxiety/drowsiness (SAD), and pain/dyspnea (PD). Changes in severity of FAD and PD significantly correlated over time (at baseline, day 8, and day 15). The FAD cluster was associated with significant improvement in severity at day 8 and day 15, whereas no significant change was observed with the SAD cluster or PD cluster after dexamethasone treatment.

CONCLUSION

The results of this preliminary study suggest significant correlation over time and improvement in the FAD cluster at day 8 and day 15 after treatment with dexamethasone. These findings suggest that fatigue, anorexia-cachexia, and depression may share a common pathophysiologic basis. Further studies are needed to investigate this cluster and target anti-inflammatory therapies.

Molecular pathways leading to loss of skeletal muscle mass in cancer cachexia--can findings from animal models be translated to humans?

Background

Cachexia is a multi-factorial, systemic syndrome that especially affects patients with cancer of the gastrointestinal tract, and leads to reduced treatment response, survival and quality of life. The most important clinical feature of cachexia is the excessive wasting of skeletal muscle mass. Currently, an effective treatment is still lacking and the search for therapeutic targets continues. Even though a substantial number of animal studies have contributed to a better understanding of the underlying mechanisms of the loss of skeletal muscle mass, subsequent clinical trials of potential new drugs have not yet yielded any effective treatment for cancer cachexia. Therefore, we questioned to which degree findings from animal studies can be translated to humans in clinical practice and research.

Discussion

A substantial amount of animal studies on the molecular mechanisms of muscle wasting in cancer cachexia has been conducted in recent years. This extensive review of the literature showed that most of their observations could not be consistently reproduced in studies on human skeletal muscle samples. However, studies on human material are scarce and limited in patient numbers and homogeneity. Therefore, their results have to be interpreted critically.

Summary

More research is needed on human tissue samples to clarify the signaling pathways that lead to skeletal muscle loss, and to confirm pre-selected drug targets from animal models in clinical trials. In addition, improved diagnostic tools and standardized clinical criteria for cancer cachexia are needed to conduct standardized, randomized controlled trials of potential drug candidates in the future.

Targeting of Fn14 Prevents Cancer-Induced Cachexia and Prolongs Survival

The cytokine TWEAK and its cognate receptor Fn14 are members of the TNF/TNFR superfamily and are upregulated in tumors. We found that Fn14, when expressed in tumors, causes cachexia and that antibodies against Fn14 dramatically extended lifespan by inhibiting tumor-induced weight loss although having only moderate inhibitory effects on tumor growth. Anti-Fn14 antibodies prevented tumor-induced inflammation and loss of fat and muscle mass. Fn14 signaling in the tumor, rather than host, is responsible for inducing this cachexia because tumors in Fn14- and TWEAK-deficient hosts developed cachexia that was comparable to that of wild-type mice. These results extend the role of Fn14 in wound repair and muscle development to involvement in the etiology of cachexia and indicate that Fn14 antibodies may be a promising approach to treat cachexia, thereby extending lifespan and improving quality of life for cancer patients.

Preclinical Investigation of the Novel Histone Deacetylase Inhibitor AR-42 in the Treatment of Cancer-Induced Cachexia

BACKGROUND

Cancer cachexia is a debilitating condition that impacts patient morbidity, mortality, and quality of life and for which effective therapies are lacking. The anticachectic activity of the novel HDAC inhibitor AR-42 was investigated in murine models of cancer cachexia.

METHODS

The effects of AR-42 on classic features of cachexia were evaluated in the C-26 colon adenocarcinoma and Lewis lung carcinoma (LLC) models. Effects on survival in comparison with approved HDAC inhibitors (vorinostat, romidepsin) were determined. The muscle metabolome and transcriptome (by RNA-seq), as well as serum cytokine profile, were evaluated. Data were analyzed using mixed effects models, analysis of variance, or log-rank tests. All statistical tests were two-sided.

RESULTS

In the C-26 model, orally administered AR-42 preserved body weight (23.9±2.6 grams, AR-42-treated; 20.8±1.3 grams, vehicle-treated; P = .005), prolonged survival (P < .001), prevented reductions in muscle and adipose tissue mass, muscle fiber size, and muscle strength and restored intramuscular mRNA expression of the E3 ligases MuRF1 and Atrogin-1 to basal levels (n = 8). This anticachectic effect, confirmed in the LLC model, was not observed after treatment with vorinostat and romidepsin. AR-42 suppressed tumor-induced changes in inflammatory cytokine production and multiple procachexia drivers (IL-6, IL-6Rα, leukemia inhibitory factor, Foxo1, Atrogin-1, MuRF1, adipose triglyceride lipase, uncoupling protein 3, and myocyte enhancer factor 2c). Metabolomic analysis revealed cachexia-associated changes in glycolysis, glycogen synthesis, and protein degradation in muscle, which were restored by AR-42 to a state characteristic of tumor-free mice.

CONCLUSIONS

These findings support further investigation of AR-42 as part of a comprehensive therapeutic strategy for cancer cachexia.

Advances in pharmacologic strategies for cancer cachexia

INTRODUCTION

Cancer cachexia is a severe inflammatory metabolic syndrome accounting for fatigue, an impairment of normal activities and, eventually, death. The loss of muscle mass associated with body weight loss is the main feature of this syndrome.

AREAS COVERED

The present review aims to describe the advances in the pharmacological approaches for cancer cachexia, highlighting the impact on weight loss, muscle wasting and related outcomes.

EXPERT OPINION

Among the pharmacological agents, attention should yet be given to the currently most widely studied drugs, such as progestogens and NSAIDs. Emerging drugs, such as ghrelin and selective androgen receptor modulators, have obtained promising results in recent randomized clinical trials. Larger sample sizes and more robust data on the effectiveness of anti-cytokine agents are needed. Any pharmacological approach to counteract cancer cachexia should always be associated with an adequate caloric intake, obtained by diet or through enteral or parenteral supplementation, if indicated. Finally, we can currently state that a combined approach that simultaneously targets the fundamental pathways involved in the pathogenesis of cancer cachexia is likely to be the most effective in terms of improvements in body weight as well as muscle wasting, function, physical performance and quality of life.

The effectiveness of nutritional interventions in malnutrition and cachexia

Cancer is a common diagnosis and leading cause of death worldwide. Amounts of weight loss vary but it is associated with considerable morbidity, poorer quality of life and reduced survival. Nutritional intervention has the potential to maximise response to treatment and improve functioning and quality of life. The aim of this paper was to review the evidence for oral nutritional interventions in the management of weight loss in patients with cancer. Comparison of studies of nutritional support interventions in people with cancer is complicated by variations in understanding of what constitutes a compromised nutritional status. There are similarities and differences between definitions of both malnutrition and cachexia and studies of oral nutritional interventions have failed to use standard criteria at study inclusion contributing to heterogeneity amongst studies. Meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials has suggested limited evidence of benefit to nutritional and clinical outcomes but some improvements to aspects of quality of life. The presence of cachexia in patients with cancer might explain the limited efficacy of simple oral nutritional interventions, which lack a component designed to address metabolic abnormalities associated with cachexia. Novel strategies combining nutritional support with therapeutic agents designed to down-regulate the metabolic aberrations have failed to demonstrate consistent benefits and the results of multimodal treatments combining several interventions are awaited. There is a need for intervention studies recruiting patients early in the disease course, which underlines the need for definitions which predict poor outcome and hence allow early recognition of vulnerable patients.

Identifying the causative proteins of similar side effect pairs to explore the common molecular basis of these side effects

Drug side effects, or adverse drug reactions (ADRs), have become a major public health concern and often cause drug development failure and withdrawal. Some ADRs always occur concomitantly. Therefore, identifying these ADRs and their common molecular basis can better promote their prevention and treatment. In this paper we predicted the potential proteins for ADR pairs with similar mechanisms based on three layers of information: (i) the drug co-occurrence between a pair of ADRs; (ii) the correlation between a protein and an ADR pair based on the co-occurrence of drugs and (iii) the interaction between these proteins within the protein-protein interaction (PPI) network. The methods of randomization and functional annotation are used to investigate and analyze the relation between causative proteins and similar ADR pairs. The prediction accuracy of the relation between similar ADR pairs and related proteins reached 80%, and it increases with the number of drugs shared by the ADR pairs. From the ADR network made of single ADRs from predicted similar ADR pairs, we found that some ADRs are involved in multiple ADR pairs. The functional analysis of these ADR-related proteins suggests that a similar molecular basis is shared by multiple ADR pairs containing the same ADR, and these ADR pairs are almost caused by the same drug sets. The results of this study are reliable and provide a theoretical basis for the better prevention and treatment of ADRs that always occur concomitantly.

An open-label clinical trial of the effects of age and gender on the pharmacodynamics, pharmacokinetics and safety of the ghrelin receptor agonist anamorelin

PURPOSE

To assess the effect of age and gender on the pharmacokinetics (PK) of the ghrelin receptor agonist anamorelin.

METHODS

Three demographic cohorts of healthy subjects were enrolled in this single-center, open-label study. Subjects received a single oral dose (25 mg) of anamorelin HCl. Serial blood samples were collected over 24 hours to assess anamorelin PK and circulating growth hormone (GH) levels. Data were compared with a reference cohort.

RESULTS

Anamorelin was rapidly absorbed in all cohorts; peak concentrations were observed 30-45 minutes and 2-4 hours post-dose, which declined biexponentially with mean terminal half-lives of 6-7 hours. An age effect on C_max and AUC_∞ was not apparent; however, mean AUC_∞ values were approximately 1.8-1.9-fold higher in the female cohorts than in the reference male cohort. GH increase was rapid and virtually identical in both sexes, though attenuated in elderly subjects. No clinically significant safety or tolerability findings were observed.

CONCLUSIONS

While PK parameters do suggest higher exposure in females, this effect is considered to be modest given the variability of the 6-8 subjects per cohort. Moreover, no such effect was observed in the pharmacodynamic responses, thus, dose adjustment for age and gender is considered unnecessary.

Anamorelin for patients with cancer cachexia: an integrated analysis of two phase 2, randomised, placebo-controlled, double-blind trials

BACKGROUND

Cancer anorexia-cachexia syndrome is associated with increased morbidity and mortality. Anamorelin is an oral ghrelin-receptor agonist with appetite-enhancing and anabolic activity. We assessed the effects of anamorelin on body composition, strength, quality of life, biochemical markers, and safety in patients with cancer anorexia-cachexia.

METHODS

Data were pooled, a priori, from two completed phase 2, multicentre, placebo-controlled, double-blind trials in patients with advanced or incurable cancer and weight loss of 5% or more. Patients were stratified by weight loss severity (5-15%, >15%) and randomly allocated (1:1) with a computer-generated randomisation schedule to anamorelin hydrochloride 50 mg or placebo once-daily for 12 weeks. Primary outcome was lean body mass by dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry over the 12 week treatment period in eligible patients who had at least one dose of study drug and post-treatment efficacy assessment. We assessed safety in all patients who received at least one dose of study drug. The trials are registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, numbers NCT00219817 and NCT00267358.

FINDINGS

Between June 29, 2005, and Oct 26, 2006, we enrolled 44 patients in the anamorelin group and 38 patients in the placebo group. 74 patients were eligible for the efficacy analyses. Over 12 weeks, lean body mass increased in 38 patients in the anamorelin group by a least-squares mean of 1.89 kg (95% CI 0.84 to 2.95) compared with a decrease of a least-squares mean of -0.20 kg (-1.23 to 0.83) for 36 patients in the placebo group (difference 2.09 kg [0.94-3.25]; p=0.0006). 42 (95%) of 44 patients treated with anamorelin and 33 (87%) of 38 patients treated with placebo had adverse events. The most common grade 3-4 adverse events (treatment-related or not) in the anamorelin group were fatigue, asthenia, atrial fibrillation, and dyspnoea (two [5%] each); in the placebo group, such events were pneumonia (three [8%]) and anaemia, thrombocytopenia, abdominal pain, anxiety, and dyspnoea (two [5%] each).

INTERPRETATION

Anamorelin treatment for 12 weeks had a favourable clinical response profile in patients with cancer anorexia-cachexia syndrome. These findings support further investigation in this setting.

FUNDING

Helsinn Therapeutics (US), Helsinn Healthcare SA.

Surprising results of a supportive integrated therapy in myelofibrosis

OBJECTIVES

Myelofibrosis (MF) is characterized by shortened survival and a greatly compromised quality of life. Weight loss and cachexia seem to be the most important factors influencing survival in patients with MF. The aim of this study was to assess the efficacy of an integrated supportive therapy in improving cachexia and MF-related symptoms.

METHODS

We reported on a case of a patient with MF who presented with weight loss and cachexia associated with severe anemia, fatigue, fever, and bone pain. The circulating levels of inflammatory, oxidative stress parameters, hepcidin, and erythropoietin were evaluated and were above normal ranges. The patient was treated with a multitargeted approach specifically developed for cachexia including oral l-carnitine, celecoxib, curcumin, lactoferrin, and subcutaneous recombinant human erythropoietin (EPO)-α.

RESULTS

Surprisingly, after 1 y, cachexia features improved, all MF symptoms were in remission, and inflammatory and oxidative stress parameters, hepcidin, and EPO were reduced.

CONCLUSIONS

Because our protocol was targeted at inflammation and the metabolic state, its effectiveness may emphasize the role of inflammation in the pathogenesis of MF symptoms and demonstrates a need for the study of new integrated therapeutic strategies.

Cachexia and pancreatic cancer: Are there treatment options?

Cachexia is frequently described in patients with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) and is associated with reduced survival and quality of life. Unfortunately, the therapeutic options of this multi-factorial and complex syndrome are limited. This is due to the fact that, despite extensive preclinical and clinical research, the underlying pathological mechanisms leading to PDAC-associated cachexia are still not fully understood. Furthermore, there is still a lack of consensus on the definition of cachexia, which complicates the standardization of diagnosis and treatment as well as the analysis of the current literature. In order to provide an efficient therapy for cachexia, an early and reliable diagnosis and consistent monitoring is required, which can be challenging especially in obese patients. Although many substances have been tested in clinical and preclinical settings, so far none of them have been proven to have a long-term effect in ameliorating cancer-associated cachexia. However, recent studies have demonstrated that multidimensional therapeutic modalities are able to alleviate pancreatic cancer-associated cachexia and ultimately improve patients’ outcome. In this current review, we propose a stepwise and pragmatic approach to facilitate and standardize the treatment of cachexia in pancreatic cancer patients. This strategy consists of nutritional, dietary, pharmacological, physical and psychological methods.

Effect of a structured, active, home-based cancer-treatment program for the management of patients on oral chemotherapy

INTRODUCTION

The advent of oral chemotherapy agents has had a strong impact on several aspects of the management of cancer patients, including survival rates, health-care expenditure, and health-related quality of life. However, access to care and adherence to oral chemotherapy are central to optimal outcomes.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

In this multicenter observational study, we assessed the effect of the "Active Home Care" initiative - a structured, active, home-based cancer-treatment program - on quality of life, health-care utilization, and patient adherence and satisfaction using self-administered questionnaires. Sixty-two patients treated with oral chemotherapy (capecitabine, vinorelbine, imatinib, sunitinib, sorafenib, temozolomide, ibandronate) were enrolled in the program. Weekly home visits were scheduled, each one with a trained nurse who delivered the home-based chemotherapy and reviewed patients' compliance and treatment toxicity. An oncologist evaluated patients and modified the dosage of oral chemotherapy based on toxicity reported during the previous cycle at bi-weekly visits.

RESULTS

A total of 460 home visits were performed between April 2012 and February 2013. The Active Home Care initiative was associated with significant improvements in physical functioning and symptoms, and reductions in the access to cancer facilities. Satisfaction with oral chemotherapy and care received was high. All patients reported having taken their medications according to their prescription, and no patient reported difficulties in managing the oral chemotherapy regimen.

CONCLUSION

The Active Home Care program was associated with improvements in the quality of life of patients and caregivers, better adherence to treatment, and the effective management of therapy and cancer-related symptoms. Home-based cancer treatment may also optimize the utilization of health-care resources.

Myostatin inhibitors as therapies for muscle wasting associated with cancer and other disorders

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

This review summarizes recent progress in the development of myostatin inhibitors for the treatment of muscle wasting disorders. It also focuses on findings in myostatin biology that may have implications for the development of antimyostatin therapies.

RECENT FINDINGS

There has been progress in evaluating antimyostatin therapies in animal models of muscle wasting disorders. Some programs have progressed into clinical development with initial results showing positive impact on muscle volume.In normal mice myostatin deficiency results in enlarged muscles with increased total force but decreased specific force (total force/total mass). An increase in myofibrillar protein synthesis without concomitant satellite cell proliferation and fusion leads to muscle hypertrophy with unchanged myonuclear number. A specific force reduction is not observed when atrophied muscle, the predominant therapeutic target of myostatin inhibitor therapy, is made myostatindeficient.Myostatin has been shown to be expressed by a number of tumor cell lines in mice and man.

SUMMARY

Myostatin inhibition remains a promising therapeutic strategy for a range of muscle wasting disorders.