Cancer Muscle Loss: Cause & Research

Breakthrough Revelation Reveals Root Cause of Cancer Cachexia, offering Hope for Improved Patient Outcomes

A new study pinpoints the protein CXCL5 as a key driver of cancer cachexia, a debilitating condition characterized by severe muscle and weight loss, perhaps paving the way for targeted therapies.

Cancer cachexia affects an estimated 80% of patients with advanced cancer and contributes too 20-30% of cancer-related deaths, representing a meaningful and often overlooked challenge in oncology. Unlike simple starvation,cancer cachexia is resistant to nutritional support; patients can consume adequate calories yet continue to experience profound muscle wasting and diminished quality of life. This ultimately reduces the effectiveness of cancer treatments and shortens survival.

Researchers at the Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology (GIST) in South Korea have now identified a critical mechanism underlying this devastating syndrome. The team, led by Life Sciences Professor Darren Williams, published their findings online in the Journal of Biomedical Science on December 15, 2023.their research centers on the role of cancer-related fibroblasts (CAFs) – cells found within the tumor microenvironment – and their communication with cancer cells.

The study revealed a significant increase in the secretion of the protein CXCL5 during signaling exchanges between cancer cells and CAFs. Experiments utilizing CAFs isolated directly from colon cancer patients demonstrated that the substances secreted by activated CAFs induced muscle cell atrophy. Among numerous signaling molecules investigated, CXCL5 exhibited the most considerable increase.

Did you know? – Cancer cachexia is distinct from starvation. patients with cachexia frequently enough have sufficient caloric intake but still experience muscle loss, making nutritional support alone ineffective.

to further validate these findings, the research team transplanted both CAFs and cancer cells from patients into experimental mice. Remarkably, blocking the action of CXCL5 in these mice led to a noticeable reduction in both weight loss and muscle atrophy.Subsequent muscle strength tests, including a “hanging test,” confirmed a recovery in muscle function.

Further analysis of gene expression changes indicated that inhibiting CXCL5 reactivated signaling pathways crucial for muscle building and maintenance. This resulted in the restoration of the structural support within muscle tissue and suppression of atrophy.The team also analyzed patient tumor tissue provided by Chonnam National University Hwasun Hospital, confirming strong CXCL5 protein expression in the tissue surrounding cancer cells, alongside vimentin, a marker for CAFs. CXCL5 expression was minimal in normal colonic tissue, solidifying the conclusion that CAFs are a primary source of this protein within the tumor environment.

Pro tip – Cancer-related fibroblasts (CAFs) are cells within the tumor environment that play a crucial role in supporting tumor growth and, as this study shows, contributing to cachexia.

“We are currently discovering a drug that inhibits CXCL5 expression,” stated a GIST research professor involved in the study, “and we expect that this will prevent rapid muscle loss and increase the survival rate of cancer patients.” This research offers a promising new avenue for therapeutic intervention, potentially offering a much-needed solution for a condition that has long lacked effective treatment options. The identification of CXCL5 as a key driver of cancer cachexia represents a significant step forward in improving the lives of millions affected by this debilitating disease.

Here’s a news report answering the “Five Ws and How”:

Why: Researchers sought to understand the underlying mechanisms of cancer cachexia, a debilitating condition causing muscle and weight loss in cancer patients, which is resistant to customary nutritional support and reduces treatment effectiveness.

Who: The study was led by Life Sciences Professor Darren Williams and his team at the Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology (GIST) in South Korea, with collaboration from chonnam National University Hwasun Hospital.

What: The research identified the protein CXCL5, secreted by cancer-related fibroblasts (CAFs) within the tumor microenvironment, as a key driver of cancer cachexia.Blocking CXCL5 in experimental mice reduced weight loss, muscle atrophy, and improved muscle function.

How: Researchers conducted experiments using CAFs isolated from colon cancer patients, transplanting them