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Updated: Aug 24, 2026

The Colon-26 Carcinoma Tumor-bearing Mouse as a Model for the Study of Cancer Cachexia
Published on: November 30, 2016
[Cytokines in experimental cancer cachexia]
Objective:
To investigate the relationship between cytokine IL-6, IL-1, TNF-alpha and experimental cancer cachexia as well as observe the effect of indomethacin on the cachectic mice.
Methods:
T739 mice bearing lung adenocarcinoma LA795 were used as murine tumor cachexia model. In this experiment, serum IL-6, IL-1, TNF-alpha, glucose, protein and triglyceride levels and body weight in different stages of cancer cachexia were monitored. Thirty-two mice were randomized into four groups for comparison, with eight mice in each group: no tumor (NTB) group, tumor without treatment (NT) group, tumor with normal saline (NST) group and tumor with indomethacin (INDT) group. For the last group, intraperitoneal infusion of indothacin 1 microgram/gm was given once every day for six days starting from the 14 th day of tumor implantation.
Results:
Compared with the NTB group, the NT group showed higher serum of IL-6, IL-1, TNF-alpha and lower total protein, triglyceride and glucose (P < 0.01). After treatment with indomethacin, the INDT mice gave higher serum glucose, protein and lipid levels. Meanwhile, the serum level of IL-6, TNF-alpha and IL-1 in the INDT group was found to be significantly low in comparison with the NST group.
Conclusion:
(1) IL-6, IL-1 and TNF-alpha appear to be involved in experimental cancer cachexia. (2) The positive effects of indomethacin by inhibiting the growth of these cytokines indicate that indomethacin is able to improve the condition of cancer cachexia.
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