Anorexia-Cachexia syndrome in cancer: implications of the ubiquitin-proteasome pathway.
BACKGROUND
Malnutrition is a common problem in cancer patients. Its incidence varies according to disease stage (between 15 and 90%) and is considered a possible prognostic factor for therapeutic response and survival. It is also one of the causes contributing to the increase in morbidity and mortality in patients. Tumor cachexia is defined as a nutritional defect caused by tumor growth in the patient and presents as a significant weight loss. This weight loss is mainly caused by a degradation of skeletal muscle proteins.


CONCLUSIONS
The ubiquitin-proteasome system is the most important pathway of protein degradation. As a regulatory system governing protein half-life, it is involved in the regulation of the cell cycle, signal transmission, immune system response, apoptosis, and oncogenesis. Knowledge of the molecular pathways involved in the induction of cancer-associated cachexia will favor a more rational approach to its treatment as well as possible quality of life and survival benefit for the patient.
Camps
Carlos
C
Servicio de Oncología Médica, Consorcio Hospital General Universitario de Valencia, Av. Tres Cruces s/n, 46014, Valencia, Spain. camps_car@gva.es
Iranzo
Vega
V
Bremnes
Roy M
RM
Sirera
Rafael
R
D000855:Anorexia / Q000209:etiology*; D002100:Cachexia / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000150:complications*; D046988:Proteasome Endopeptidase Complex / Q000502:physiology*; D011509:Proteoglycans / Q000502:physiology; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000502:physiology; D013577:Syndrome; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000502:physiology; D025801:Ubiquitin / Q000378:metabolism*
D011509:Proteoglycans; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D025801:Ubiquitin; C042057:proteolysis-inducing peptide; D046988:Proteasome Endopeptidase Complex