Cachexia is a frequent problem in cancer patients associated with mortality and morbidity since it causes death, reduced therapy effectiveness, as well as decreased quality of life. Cachexia emerges from interactions of several factors, namely metabolic effect of cancer cells, factors released by cancer cells, cytokines release from host cell in response to tumors, and side effects of therapies. Combination of these factors contributes to anorexia, decreased body fat and muscle, and weight loss. Unfortunately, there is no gold standard for treatment of cachexia. Several studies found that eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) might improve cancer cachexia. It has potential blocking effects on several cachexia underlying factors. It may reverse weight loss, increase lean body mass, and improve the efficacy of therapy and the quality of life. The objective of this literature review is to describe and give basic understanding of EPA as adjuvant for cancer cachexia.

Cervical cancer is the second most common cancer among women in the world. Persistent infection with high risk human papillomavirus (HPV) is one of the necessary causes of cervical cancer development. However, host genetic factors may also play a role in cervical cancer carcinogenesis. Methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase enzyme, encoded by the MTHFR gene, regulates folate metabolism which is important for genetic expression and stability. Single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) C677T in MTHFR gene may produce a thermo-labile enzyme, resulting in a reduced enzyme activity. The aim of this study was to explore the SNP C677T of MTHFR gene and the susceptibility to cervical cancer among cancer patients visiting Dr. Hasan Sadikin General Hospital, Bandung, Indonesia. This descriptive quantitative study involved cervical cancer patients recruited in 2010 and their control group. Genomic DNA was extracted from patients' blood. MTHFR C677T genotype was performed using BeadXpress Reader Illumina® and some samples were re-genotyped for confirmation using conventional PCR-RFLP. The distribution of MTHFR C677T genotype in cervical cancer patients was 71.6%, 25.4%, and 3%, and 44%, 36%, and 20% in control group for CC, CT, and TT, respectively. This yielded a statistical significant difference of CC vs CT+TT (p 0.014 with OR 3.22 and CI 95% 1.24 -8.33). Taken together, this result indicates that T allele has a protective effect against cervical cancer development. Further studies to confirm this effect in bigger population is warranted. [MKB. 2016;48(4)