Pathophysiological role of hormones and cytokines in cancer cachexia.
We investigated the role of fasting hormones and pro-inflammatory cytokines in cancer patients. Hormones (ghrelin, adiponectin, and leptin) and cytokines (TNF-α, IFN-γ, and IL-6) were measured by ELISA or RIA in lung cancer and colorectal cancer patients before the administration of cancer therapy, and measurements were repeated every 2 months for 6 months. From June 2006 to August 2008, 42 patients (19 with colorectal cancer and 23 with lung cancer) were enrolled. In total, 21 patients were included in the cachexia group and the others served as a comparison group. No significant difference in the initial adiponectin, ghrelin, TNF-α, IFN-γ, or IL-6 level was observed between groups, although leptin was significantly lower in cachectic patients than in the comparison group (15.3 ± 19.5 vs 80.9 ± 99.0 pg/mL, P = 0.007). During the follow-up, the patients who showed a > 5% weight gain had higher ghrelin levels after 6 months. Patients exhibiting elevated IL-6 levels typically showed a weight loss > 5% after 6 months. A blunted adiponectin or ghrelin response to weight loss may contribute to cancer cachexia and IL-6 may be responsible for inducing and maintaining cancer cachexia.
Division of Hematology & Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, Soonchunhyang University College of Medicine, Bucheon Hospital, Bucheon, Korea.
Hyun Jung
HJ
Kim
Han Jo
HJ
Kim
Jina
J
Yun
Kyoung Ha
KH
Kim
Se Hyung
SH
Kim
Sang-Cheol
SC
Lee
Sang Byung
SB
Bae
Chan Kyu
CK
Kim
Nam Su
NS
Lee
Kyu Taek
KT
Lee
Seong Kyu
SK
Park
Jong Ho
JH
Won
Hee Sook
HS
Park
Dae Sik
DS
Hong
D052242:Adiponectin / Q000032:analysis; D000368:Aged; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002100:Cachexia / Q000503:physiopathology*; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000401:mortality; D016207:Cytokines / Q000032:analysis*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D054439:Ghrelin / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000032:analysis / Q000502:physiology; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000032:analysis; D020738:Leptin / Q000032:analysis; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000401:mortality; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D036361:Peptide Hormones / Q000032:analysis*; D011379:Prognosis; D011446:Prospective Studies; D015996:Survival Rate; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000032:analysis; D015430:Weight Gain; D015431:Weight Loss
D052242:Adiponectin; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D016207:Cytokines; D054439:Ghrelin; D015850:Interleukin-6; D020738:Leptin; D036361:Peptide Hormones; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D007371:Interferon-gamma