[Mechanism and treatment of cancer cachexia in tumor-bearing mice].
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the role of TNF-alpha in the development of cancer cachexia, and the effects of TNF-alpha antibody and high agglutinated staphylococcin (BM828) in the treatment of experimental cancer cachexia.


METHODS
T739 mice bearing LA795 tumor were used as murine tumor cachexia model and also the T739 receiving TNF-alpha. The level of serum TNF-alpha was assayed by TNF-alpha RIA in each group. Comparisons were made in the food intake and body weight of all the five groups including BM828 and TNF-alpha AB groups.


RESULTS
Two weeks after being inoculated with LA795, the tumor-bearing mice developed significant anorexia and weight loss. The level of serum TNF-alpha in tumor-bearing mice was significantly higher than that in the non-tumor bearing mice (P < 0.01). TNF-alpha administration to mice resulted also in marked anorexia and weight loss as in cancer cachexia.


CONCLUSIONS
The results suggested that the mechanism of cachexia be correlated with TNF-alpha. BM828 and TNF-alpha AB have the potentiality of attenuating the development of cachexia in murine models.
Li
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T
Bengbu Medical College.
Li
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C
D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000150:complications; D000818:Animals; D000906:Antibodies / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001430:Bacteriocins / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002100:Cachexia / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology*; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000150:complications; D051379:Mice; D009368:Neoplasm Transplantation; D013210:Staphylococcus; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000276:immunology / Q000502:physiology*; D015431:Weight Loss / Q000187:drug effects
D000906:Antibodies; D001430:Bacteriocins; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; C017724:staphylococcin