title: Towards a simple objective framework for the investigation and treatment of cancer cachexia: the Glasgow Prognostic Score.
abstract: Progress in the treatment of progressive involuntary weight loss in patients with cancer (cancer cachexia) remains dismally slow. Cancer cachexia and its associated clinical symptoms, including weight loss, altered body composition, poor functional status, poor food intake, and poorer quality of life, have long been recognised as indicators of poorer prognosis in the patient with cancer. In order to make some progress a starting point is to have general agreement on what constitutes cancer cachexia. In recent years a plethora of different definitions and consensus statements have been proposed as a framework for investigation and treatment of this debilitating and terminal condition. However, there are significant differences in the criteria used in these and all include poorly defined or subjective criteria and their prognostic value has not been established. The aim of the present review was to examine the hypothesis that a systemic inflammatory response accounts for most of the effect of cancer cachexia and its associated clinical symptoms on poor outcome in patients with cancer. Furthermore, to put forward the case for the Glasgow Prognostic Score to act a simple objective framework for the investigation and treatment of cancer cachexia.
authors: Academic Unit of Surgery, School of Medicine, University of Glasgow, Glasgow Royal Infirmary, Glasgow G31 2ER, United Kingdom. Electronic address: euan.douglas@gmail.com.
authors: Euan
authors: E
authors: Douglas
authors: Academic Unit of Surgery, School of Medicine, University of Glasgow, Glasgow Royal Infirmary, Glasgow G31 2ER, United Kingdom.
authors: Donald C
authors: DC
authors: McMillan
mesh_terms: D000855:Anorexia / Q000150:complications; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D001823:Body Composition; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000378:metabolism; D002100:Cachexia / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*; D018450:Disease Progression; D002149:Energy Intake; D005221:Fatigue / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D018908:Muscle Weakness / Q000209:etiology; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000150:complications*; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011379:Prognosis; D011788:Quality of Life; D012709:Serum Albumin / Q000378:metabolism; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D018746:Systemic Inflammatory Response Syndrome / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications*; D015431:Weight Loss
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D012709:Serum Albumin; D002097:C-Reactive Protein
keywords: Cachexia; Cancer; Glasgow Prognostic Score