Biomarkers for Cancer Cachexia: A Mini Review

Abstract

Cancer cachexia is a common condition in many cancer patients, particularly those with advanced disease. Cancer cachexia patients are generally less tolerant to chemotherapies and radiotherapies, largely limiting their treatment options. While the search for treatments of this condition are ongoing, standards for the efficacy of treatments have yet to be developed. Current diagnostic criteria for cancer cachexia are primarily based on loss of body mass and muscle function. However, these criteria are rather limiting, and in time, when weight loss is noticeable, it may be too late for treatment. Consequently, biomarkers for cancer cachexia would be valuable adjuncts to current diagnostic criteria, and for assessing potential treatments. Using high throughput methods such as “omics approaches”, a plethora of potential biomarkers have been identified. This article reviews and summarizes current studies of biomarkers for cancer cachexia.

Aging Aggravates Cachexia in Tumor-Bearing Mice

“…Lastly, it is important to note that we also observed an age-effect in our patient cohort. Despite the small sample size ( n = 14/group), we demonstrated significant correlations between circulating cytokines and weight loss, in line with their important function as cachexia biomarkers [ 44 ]. However, these correlations were lost in the aged patient group.…”

Contemporary Insights into Cancer Cachexia for Oncology Nurses

“…Potential biomarkers are classified as those originating from the host (i.e., cachexia-inducing factors, muscle, and fat wasting products), the tumor (i.e., tumor-necrosing factor), and both host and tumor (i.e., inflammatory cytokines, micro RNAs). [ 14 ] Bruggeman et al .,[ 31 ] noted that the combination of elevated C-reactive protein, weight loss, and nutritional intake, may be used in the future as a combined measure of cachexia. Other imminent biomarkers may include the presence of increased inflammatory cytokines (i.e., interleukin 6, tumor necrosis factor), urine levels of lipid mobilizing factor, and interleukins identified in tissue biopsy samples.…”

“…Currently, there is no established standard of care to manage cancer cachexia nor an Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved drug to treat it. [ 14 18 ] Numerous issues to date are associated with this unfortunate reality. They include targeting interventions that focus on patients with refractory cachexia who are not amenable to treatment.…”

“…[ 11 12 ] Other negative corollaries of cachexia include an association with reduced efficacy of antineoplastic therapies, enhanced treatment toxicity, heightened incidence of surgical complications, and decreased overall survival. [ 11 13 14 ]…”

Low miR 511-5p Expression as a Potential Predictor of a Poor Nutritional Status in Head and Neck Cancer Patients Subjected to Intensity-Modulated Radiation Therapy

“…Products arising as a result of muscles and fat wasting were also proposed as potential biomarkers of cancer cachexia: glycerol, β-dystroglycan, hexosyl-ceramides (HCERs) and lactosyl-ceramides (LCERs) [19]. Moreover, altered blood serum or plasma expression of miR-203 (high), miR-21 (high), or miR-130a (low) was indicated as related to cancer cachexia [20]. However, none of the mentioned cachexia-related markers are used in clinical practice as their use has not been validated [20].…”