Experimental cancer cachexia: Evolving strategies for getting closer to the human scenario.
Cancer cachexia is a frequent syndrome that dramatically affects patient quality of life, anti-cancer treatment effectiveness, and overall survival. To date, no effective treatment is available and most of the studies are performed in experimental models in order to uncover the underlying mechanisms and to design prospective therapeutic strategies. This review summarizes the most relevant information regarding the use of animal models for studying cancer cachexia. Technical limitations and degree of recapitulation of the features of human cachexia are highlighted, in order to help investigators choose the most suitable model according to study-specific endpoints.
Department of Clinical and Biological Sciences, University of Torino, 10125 Torino, Italy. Electronic address: fabio.penna@unito.it.
Fabio
F
Penna
Cancer Research Group, Departament de Bioquímica i Biologia Molecular, Facultat de Biologia, Universitat de Barcelona, 08028 Barcelona, Spain; Institut de Biomedicina de la Universitat de Barcelona (IBUB), 08028 Barcelona, Spain. Electronic address: silviabusquets@ub.edu.
Sílvia
S
Busquets
Cancer Research Group, Departament de Bioquímica i Biologia Molecular, Facultat de Biologia, Universitat de Barcelona, 08028 Barcelona, Spain; Institut de Biomedicina de la Universitat de Barcelona (IBUB), 08028 Barcelona, Spain. Electronic address: jargiles@ub.edu.
Josep M
JM
Argilés
D000818:Animals; D002100:Cachexia / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005818:Genetic Engineering; D006801:Humans; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology
Cancer cachexia; Experimental model; Muscle wasting; Preclinical; Translational