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Review
. 2020 Dec 4;21(23):9268.
doi: 10.3390/ijms21239268.

Cancer-Associated Muscle Wasting-Candidate Mechanisms and Molecular Pathways

Victoria S Armstrong  1   2 , Liam W Fitzgerald  1   2 , Oliver F Bathe  1   2   3
Affiliations
Review

Cancer-Associated Muscle Wasting-Candidate Mechanisms and Molecular Pathways

Victoria S Armstrong et al. Int J Mol Sci. .

Abstract

Excessive muscle loss is commonly observed in cancer patients and its association with poor prognosis has been well-established. Cancer-associated sarcopenia differs from age-related wasting in that it is not responsive to nutritional intervention and exercise. This is related to its unique pathogenesis, a result of diverse and interconnected mechanisms including inflammation, disordered metabolism, proteolysis and autophagy. There is a growing body of evidence that suggests that the tumor is the driver of muscle wasting by its elaboration of mediators that influence each of these pro-sarcopenic pathways. In this review, evidence for these tumor-derived factors and putative mechanisms for inducing muscle wasting will be reviewed. Potential targets for future research and therapeutic interventions will also be reviewed.

Keywords: cancer; mediators; muscle wasting; pathophysiology; sarcopenia; tumor; tumor-derived.

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Conflict of interest statement

O.F.B. has received funding from Pfizer Inc. for research on cachexia.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
General mechanisms contributing to the pathogenesis of muscle wasting.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Tumor-derived factors have been described that are pro-inflammatory in nature, target the central nervous system (CNS) and directly target muscle. Mediators in red are also known to encourage tumor growth.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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