1.
Anorexia-Cachexia syndrome in cancer: implications of the ubiquitin-proteasome pathway.
Camps, C, Iranzo, V, Bremnes, RM, Sirera, R
Supportive care in cancer : official journal of the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer. 2006;(12):1173-83
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Malnutrition is a common problem in cancer patients. Its incidence varies according to disease stage (between 15 and 90%) and is considered a possible prognostic factor for therapeutic response and survival. It is also one of the causes contributing to the increase in morbidity and mortality in patients. Tumor cachexia is defined as a nutritional defect caused by tumor growth in the patient and presents as a significant weight loss. This weight loss is mainly caused by a degradation of skeletal muscle proteins. CONCLUSION The ubiquitin-proteasome system is the most important pathway of protein degradation. As a regulatory system governing protein half-life, it is involved in the regulation of the cell cycle, signal transmission, immune system response, apoptosis, and oncogenesis. Knowledge of the molecular pathways involved in the induction of cancer-associated cachexia will favor a more rational approach to its treatment as well as possible quality of life and survival benefit for the patient.
2.
Sex differences in disease anorexia.
Geary, N
Nutrition (Burbank, Los Angeles County, Calif.). 2001;(6):499-507
Abstract
Sexually differentiated responses occur in molecular, cellular, physiologic, and organismic aspects of immune-system function in relation to acquired and innate immunities. These sex differences apparently include activational effects, which depend on gonadal hormone levels in adults, and lifelong effects, which arise directly from genetic differences or organizational effects of gonadal hormones early in development that lead to lifelong sex differences. Sex differences in immune function also can have great biological significance. Despite this, the mechanisms of these effects rarely have been analyzed extensively. This is especially true of anorexia during illness or disease. Therefore, this review briefly considers 1) the biological mechanisms of sex differences; 2) sex differences in immune function; 3) clinical and experimental data related to sex differences in four diseases or disease models that involve anorexia, Crohn's inflammatory-bowel disease, cancer, turpentine inflammation, and lipopolysaccharide bacteremia; and 4) sex differences in anorexia after interleukin-1 administration.