Cancer cachexia: pathophysiologic aspects and treatment options

Cancer cachexia is a syndrome characterized with progressive weight loss and abnormal wasting of fat and muscle tissue, and affects 40 to 85% of all terminally ill patients, accounting more than 20% of all cancer deaths. Current treatment for cancer cachexia principally depends on its prevention rat...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention : APJCP 2007-07, Vol.8 (3), p.445-451
Main Authors: Topkan, Erkan, Yavuz, Ali Aydin, Ozyilkan, Ozgur
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Appetite Stimulants - therapeutic use
Cachexia - etiology
Cachexia - physiopathology
Cachexia - prevention & control
Dietary Supplements
Humans
Neoplasms - complications
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Summary:Cancer cachexia is a syndrome characterized with progressive weight loss and abnormal wasting of fat and muscle tissue, and affects 40 to 85% of all terminally ill patients, accounting more than 20% of all cancer deaths. Current treatment for cancer cachexia principally depends on its prevention rather than reversing the present disease state, and the clinical results are far from being satisfactory. Although the exact mechanism and predisposing factors have yet to be clarified in detail, our growing knowledge about the pathophysiology and biochemical changes considering this life threatening condition should help in development of future therapeutic strategies. In the present paper, the current preclinical and clinical features considering the pathophysiology and treatment of cancer related cachexia are reviewed.
ISSN:1513-7368