title: Rethinking nutritional support for persons with cancer cachexia.
abstract: Cancer cachexia is a poorly understood syndrome of anorexia, weight loss, and muscle wasting that negatively impacts quality of life and survival in cancer patients. Research has clearly implicated pro-inflammatory cytokines in the biology of cancer cachexia. More recent research implicates products of arachidonic acid and suggests that cachexia may be a chronic inflammatory condition rather than a nutritional aberration. To date, nutritional support to slow weight loss has focused primarily on increasing calorie intake. Alternatively, many foods contain factors that can modulate the synthesis or activity of pro-inflammatory mediators, especially the synthesis of prostaglandin E2 from arachidonic acid. These factors and foods are sometimes called nutraceuticals, and research is needed to evaluate their efficacy in combating cancer cachexia.
authors.affiliation: National Institute of Nursing Research, 31 Center Drive, Room 5B-13, Bethesda, MD 20892-2178, USA. mccarthd@mail.nih.gov
authors.forename: Donna O
authors.initials: DO
authors.lastname: McCarthy
mesh_terms: D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016718:Arachidonic Acid / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D002100:Cachexia / Q000209:etiology* / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000628:therapy*; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2; D016207:Cytokines / Q000276:immunology; D016228:Endothelial Growth Factors / Q000276:immunology; D002149:Energy Intake; D005231:Fatty Acids, Unsaturated / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005419:Flavonoids; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / Q000276:immunology; D007527:Isoenzymes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D008222:Lymphokines / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000150:complications*; D018529:Nutritional Support / Q000379:methods*; D010636:Phenols / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011108:Polymers / Q000627:therapeutic use; D059808:Polyphenols; D011451:Prostaglandin-Endoperoxide Synthases / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species / Q000276:immunology; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D042442:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factors; D015431:Weight Loss
chemical_list: D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D000975:Antioxidants; D016207:Cytokines; D016228:Endothelial Growth Factors; D005231:Fatty Acids, Unsaturated; D005419:Flavonoids; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D007527:Isoenzymes; D008222:Lymphokines; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D010636:Phenols; D011108:Polymers; D059808:Polyphenols; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D042442:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factors; D016718:Arachidonic Acid; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2; C496540:PTGS2 protein, human; D011451:Prostaglandin-Endoperoxide Synthases