Review
Version 1
Preserved in Portico This version is not peer-reviewed
Immune System Disorder and Cancer-Associated Cachexia
Version 1
: Received: 10 April 2024 / Approved: 11 April 2024 / Online: 11 April 2024 (11:24:37 CEST)
A peer-reviewed article of this Preprint also exists.
Zhang, L.; Bonomi, P.D. Immune System Disorder and Cancer-Associated Cachexia. Cancers 2024, 16, 1709. Zhang, L.; Bonomi, P.D. Immune System Disorder and Cancer-Associated Cachexia. Cancers 2024, 16, 1709.
Abstract
Cancer-associated cachexia (CAC) is a debilitating condition marked by muscle and fat loss, unresponsive to nutritional support, and contributes significantly to morbidity and mortality in patients with cancer. Immune dysfunction, driven by cytokine imbalance, contributes to CAC progression. This review explores the potential relationship between CAC and anti-cancer immune response in pre-clinical and clinical studies. Pre-clinical studies showcase the involvement of cytokines like IL-1β, IL-6, IL-8, IFN-γ, TNF-α, and TGF-β, in CAC. IL-6 and TNF-α, interacting with muscle and adipose tissues, induce wasting through JAK/STAT and NF-κB pathways. Myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) exacerbate CAC by promoting inflammation. Clinical studies confirm elevated pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-6, IL-8, TNFα) and immune markers like neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) in patients with CAC. Thus, immunomodulatory mechanisms involved in CAC may impact the anti-neoplastic immune response. Inhibiting CAC mechanisms could enhance anti-cancer therapies, notably immunotherapy. R-ketorolac, a new immunomodulator, reversed weight loss and increased survival in mice. Combining these agents with immunotherapy may benefit patients with cancer experiencing CAC. Further research is vital to understand the complex interplay between tumor-induced immune dysregulation and CAC during immunotherapy.
Keywords
CAC; cytokines; immune disorder; inflammation; muscle wasting; IL-6; TNF-α
Subject
Biology and Life Sciences, Life Sciences
Copyright: This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
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