• Journal of Digestive Cancer Research
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• 제3권2호
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• pp.61-69
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• 2015

About 80% of all pancreatic cancer patients suffer from a wasting syndrome defined as the cancer cachexia characterized by abnormally low weight, weakness, and loss of skeletal muscle mass, which directly impacts physical activity, quality of life and overall survival. Over the past decades, we have gained new insights into the underlying mechanism of cachexia associated with pancreatic cancer. The aim of this review was to explore recent findings about cancer cachexia pathophysiology and describe the current pharmacologic approach. Pancreatic cancer cachexia is a multifactorial syndrome mediated by mechanical factors, inflammatory cytokines, neuropeptides, hormones and tumor-derived factors. The treatment of cancer cachexia remains controversial but is currently an active area of research. Several new targeted drugs are under investigation, and we hope to open a new prospect in the management of cancer cachexia in the future.

• 생명과학회지
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• 제32권3호
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• pp.263-269
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• 2022

암 악액질은 암으로 인한 다기관 대사성 질환으로 식욕부진과 체중 감소가 주요 증상이다. 일반적으로 암 환자의 식욕부진과 체중감소는 항암화학요법 치료와 암 환자의 생존율에 악영향을 미치는 심각한 문제이다. 암 악액질은 일반적으로 췌장암, 폐암, 결장암 등 소화기관 암 환자의 약 80%에서 동반되는 것으로 알려져 있으며, 림프종이나 유방암 환자에서는 비교적 드물다. 암 악액질에 의한 식욕부진은 화학요법에 의해서도 일어나지만, 화학요법과는 독립적으로 발생하는 것으로 알려져 있다. 암 악액질의 발병기전으로는 종양 조직에 의해 과도하게 증가되는 염증성 사이토카인에 의한 정상 조직 기능의 저하가 주요 원인이다. 암 악액질의 메커니즘은 아직 완전히 이해되지 않았기 때문에 현재 악액질을 치료할 치료제나 진단 바이오마커가 없는 실정이다. 최근 발표된 연구에서는 암세포에서 분비되는 물질이 악액질에 의한 식욕억제를 일으키는 것이 확인되었고 그 분자생물학적 기전이 밝혀졌다. 이 물질의 발현 및 분비 증가는 암 환자의 악액질 증상과 통계적으로 상관관계가 있는 것으로 밝혀져 암악액질 진단 및 치료제 개발에 활용될 것으로 기대된다. 이 논문에서는 암 악액질의 주요증상인 섭식장애와 체중감소의 이해를 돕고자 알려진 원인과 분자 기전들의 내용을 소개하겠다.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• 제15권23호
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• pp.10165-10169
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• 2015

Background: Megestrol acetate (MA) is a steroid origin medicine often used for control of cachexia in oncologic palliative care. Thrombosis is a common problem in oncology patients. One question is whether MA can cause thrombosis. This retrospective, registry-based analysis was therefore conducted to assess thrombotic processes in oncology patients using MA concurrent with chemotherapy. Materials and Methods: Data on oncology patients at the metastatic stage using MA were obtained from the archives of our center. Outcomes of patients were evaluated for thromboembolic events (VTEs) during treatment. Results: Ninety-seven oncology patients with a median age of 62 (33-84) years were included. During the median follow-up of 17 months, 58 (59.8%) died leaving 39 (31.2%) still alive. Median overall survival (OS) was 19 months (6-180). Mean time of MA use was 8.69 months(${\pm}3.53$), with a median dose of 160mg (range 160-480mg). Eleven VTEs were detected after MA use, 4 of these in pancreatic cancer cases. The patients with thrombosis non-significantly had worse OS, than those without thrombosis (p=0.106). Conclusions: This trial revealed that the 11.3% of all patients developed thrombosis,who had been treated with MA and chemotherapy concomittantly. There was no statistically significant difference regarding to occurrence of thrombotic process, among the patients receiving different chemotherapy regimens with MA concomittantly. Pancreatic cancer seemed to be related to thrombosis rather than MA use.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• 제13권9호
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• pp.4263-4266
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• 2012

Colorectal cancer has become a major disease threatening human health. To establish animal models that exhibit the characteristics of human colorectal cancer will not only help to study the mechanisms underlying the genesis and development effectively, but also provide ideal carriers for the screening of medicines and examining their therapeutic effects. In this study, we established a stable, colon cancer nude mouse model highly expressing green fluorescent protein (GFP) for spontaneous metastasis after surgical orthotopic implantation (SOI). GFP-labeled colon cancer models for metastasis after SOI were successfully established in all of 15 nude mice and there were no surgery-related complications or deaths. In week 3, primary tumors expressing GFP were observed in all model animals under fluoroscopy and two metastatic tumors were monitored by fluorescent imaging at the same time. The tumor volumes progressively increased with time. Seven out of 15 tumor transplanted mice died and the major causes of death were intestinal obstruction and cachexia resulting from malignant tumor growth. Eight model animals survived at the end of the experiment, 6 of which had metastases (6 cases to mesenteric lymph nodes, 4 hepatic, 2 pancreatic and 1 mediastinal lymph node). Our results indicate that our GFP-labeled colon cancer orthotopic transplantation model is useful with a high success rate; the transplanted tumors exhibit similar biological properties to human colorectal cancer, and can be used for real-time, in vivo, non-invasive and dynamic observation and analysis of the growth and metastasis of tumor cells.