Merging therapeutics and supportive care: synergy and yield No abstract available

Sarcopenia: looking to muscle mass to better manage pancreatic cancer patients Purpose of review Overall survival of patients with pancreatic cancer is strongly conditioned by tumor biology and the incidence of malnutrition and metabolic disorders. In this landscape, the assessment of body composition is crucial to properly manage the clinical implications of muscle wasting. The pathogenesis of this condition is the result of a complex interplay between cancer and the host. In particular, sarcopenia is induced by an inadequate nutritional intake, hormonal abnormalities, inflammation and imbalance between anabolic and catabolic pathways. Recent findings Recent evidences have highlighted the role of sarcopenia in cancer patients, revealing a prognostic impact on morbidity, mortality and survival. Summary The occurrence of sarcopenia could amplify chemotherapy-induced toxicities, prolong hospitalizations and reduce adherence to anticancer treatment, worsening quality of life and survival. Although considerable efforts have been made to develop treatment strategies, no effective interventions have been identified so far. Nevertheless, if promptly and adequately supported, pancreatic cancer might benefit from adopted dietary intervention to avoid further loss of lean mass.

Endocrinopathies and cancer cachexia Purpose of review Cancer cachexia cannot be easily reversed by standard nutritional support and interventions directed at underlying metabolic derangements may be needed to prevent or reverse cachexia and maintain healthy body composition. The following review will highlight the contribution and potential therapeutic interventions for insulin resistance, alterations in ghrelin signaling, and hypogonadism in cancer patients. Recent findings In addition to decreased caloric intake, chronic inflammation, and altered metabolism of glucose, proteins and lipids, endocrine abnormalities can propagate weight loss or changes in body composition in cancer patients. Summary Cancer cachexia, loss of muscle mass with or without the loss of fat mass, is a multifactorial syndrome, which is associated with increased morbidity and mortality. Currently, limited therapeutic options for the treatment of weight loss in cancer patients exist, which lead to clinically meaningful improvements in weight gain and performance status. Treatment directed at underlying insulin resistance, low testosterone, and altered ghrelin sensitivity, in the future, may lead to potential therapeutic options for loss of lean body mass and cancer cachexia.

Cancer cachexia and treatment toxicity Purpose of review Cancer cachexia is a metabolic disturbance resulting in a loss of skeletal muscle mass that is generally not reversed through traditional nutritional interventions. We review on both the impact of nutritional status on cancer treatment side effects, as well as cancer- specific outcomes. Recent findings Cancer-specific cachexia and sarcopenia are associated with increased treatment-associated toxicity, and overall worse cancer-specific outcomes across all cancer types in surgical, chemotherapeutic, and radiotherapeutic populations. Despite the fact that cancer cachexia is generally thought to be irreversible, there is some evidence that nutritional intervention can be helpful. Summary Nutritional status is an important factor to consider in determining cancer therapy. Patients with poor nutritional status should be identified prior to the initiation of therapy and be monitored judiciously.

Cardiac cachexia: the mandate to increase clinician awareness Purpose of review Heart failure is a frequent problem in an ageing population, associated with high rates of morbidity and mortality. Today, it is important to not only treat heart failure itself but also the related comorbidities. Among them, cardiac cachexia is one of the major challenges. It is a complex multifactorial disease with a negative impact on quality of life and prognosis. Therefore, prevention, early recognition and treatment of cardiac cachexia is essential. Recent findings Cardiac cachexia frequently presents with skeletal as well as heart muscle depletion. Imaging-based diagnostic techniques can help to identify patients with cardiac cachexia and muscle wasting. Several blood biomarkers are available to detect metabolic changes in cardiac cachexia. Summary Several studies are currently ongoing to better comprehend the underlying pathophysiological mechanisms of cardiac cachexia and to find new treatments. It is essential to diagnose it as early as possible to initiate therapy.

From cachexia to obesity: the role of host metabolism in cancer immunotherapy Purpose of review Currently, several clinical trials in cancer therapy have demonstrated the success of immunomodulatory therapies. However, only a variable fraction of patients actually benefit from these treatments. The understanding of key mechanisms behind this response heterogeneity is one of the major unmet need and intense research field in immuno-oncology. This review will discuss the host metabolic dysfunctions derived from cachexia or obesity that can affect the response to cancer immunotherapy. Recent findings Preclinical studies demonstrated that chronic inflammation, nutritional intake impairment and endocrine dysfunction may affect anticancer innate and adaptive immunity, both in cachexia and obesity. New emerging clinical findings have highlighted the impact of metabolic biomarkers in predicting response to immune checkpoint inhibitors in cancer patients. Summary Patient's weight and inflammatory status could be relevant in the clinical decision-making process before starting cancer immunotherapy and for an effective patient selection and stratification in future clinical trials employing this class of anticancer agents.

Dietetic assessment and intervention in lung cancer Purpose of review Systemic therapy for lung cancer is increasing in intensity and duration. European nutrition guidelines suggest screening for weight loss and malnutrition, however acknowledges there is a lack of evidence. We discuss current data round this issue and identify opportunities for further research. Recent findings International guidelines now exist to aid the definition of weight loss in cancer, including cachexia, sarcopenia and malnutrition. These allow consistent definition of overlapping, but distinct clinical syndromes. Nutritional status can be assessed in a range of ways including questionnaires, functional assessments, blood markers, physical activity, weight and BMI. Weight loss is commonly associated with a proinflammatory state. Future treatment is likely to be a combination of dietetic support and pharmacological treatment of cachexia. Summary There is a paucity of data on dietetic intervention. It is potentially quick, inexpensive and patient specific, using a holistic approach to aid patients who are malnourished or at risk of malnutrition. Lung cancer-related weight loss is common, further strategies are needed to effectively assess and intervene. Dietetic intervention has the potential to improve patients’ quality of life and outcomes.

Cancer cachexia in thoracic malignancy: a narrative review Purpose of review Thoracic malignancies are amongst the most lethal of all cancers. Cancer cachexia lacks unanimously accepted diagnostic criteria, and therefore is referenced to as a conceptual framework whereby cancer cachexia is ‘an ongoing loss of skeletal muscle mass (termed sarcopenia), with or without loss of fat mass that cannot be reversed by conventional nutritional support and leads to progressive functional impairment’. This review summarises the current evidence base in this field, including imaging techniques currently used to define sarcopenia, inflammatory and metabolic changes associated with the syndrome and ongoing research into potential treatment strategies. Recent findings Sarcopenia is a key component of the cancer cachexia syndrome. It is common in patients with both early-stage and advanced NSCLC. Patients with sarcopenia have more treatment-related side effects and poorer overall survival compared with nonsarcopenic patients. Summary Early identification of cancer cachexia may facilitate stratification of patients most-at-risk and initiation of emerging anticachexia treatments. If these are proven to be effective, this strategy has the potential to improve tolerance to anti-cancer therapies, improving the quality of life, and perhaps the survival, of patients with thoracic malignancies.

Meaningful measures in cancer cachexia: implications for practice and research Purpose of review Cancer cachexia is a complex inflammatory syndrome, which presents with a variety of discrete symptoms and signs. This creates a challenge for both clinicians and researchers in recognizing and assessing the syndrome. This review explores the evidence for various measures used in the assessment of cachexia. Recent findings Objectively, cachexia may be assessed using CT-derived measures of skeletal muscle [skeletal muscle index (SMI) and skeletal muscle density (SMD)]. Evidence suggests that SMD may be of equal or greater value than SMI in assessing cachexia. Inflammatory markers are also used, and include interleukin(IL)-1α; IL-1β; IL-6 and Interferon Gamma (IFNγ). Other robust measures include performance status and the modified Glasgow prognostic score (mGPS). These measures, however, are more commonly used in academia. By comparison, clinical assessment is limited to individual measures of patient function, such as hand grip strength (HGS), calf circumference, gait speed, and the ‘timed up and go test’ (TUG). These have each been linked with components of cachexia but are less well evidenced. Evidence also exists for patient-reported quality-of-life measures, based upon the EORTC- QLQ-C30 questionnaire, in assessing cachexia. Summary Further assessment is required to compare clinical measures of cachexia and determine their utility.