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Updated: Aug 7, 2026
08:55
The Colon-26 Carcinoma Tumor-bearing Mouse as a Model for the Study of Cancer Cachexia
Published on: November 30, 2016
Energy balance in relation to cancer cachexia
E W Fredrix1, P B Soeters, E F Wouters
1Department of Human Biology, University of Limburg, PO Box 616, 6200 MD, Maastricht, The Netherlands.
Clinical Nutrition (Edinburgh, Scotland)
|December 1, 1990
Summary
Weight loss in gastric and colorectal cancer patients stems from reduced food intake. In contrast, lung cancer patients experience weight loss due to increased resting energy expenditure (REE) and lower energy intake (EI).
Area of Science:
- Metabolism and Nutrition in Oncology
- Cancer Cachexia Pathophysiology
Background:
- Cancer-associated weight loss is a significant clinical concern, impacting treatment efficacy and patient prognosis.
- Understanding the interplay between resting energy expenditure (REE) and energy intake (EI) is crucial for managing cancer cachexia.
Purpose of the Study:
- To elucidate the distinct contributions of elevated REE and/or reduced EI to weight loss in gastric/colorectal (GCR) and lung cancer patients.
- To compare metabolic profiles, including REE and EI, between cancer patients and healthy individuals.
Main Methods:
- Measured REE in 22 GCR cancer patients, 17 lung cancer patients, and 40 healthy controls.
- Assessed energy intake (EI) and body weight changes.
- Analyzed respiratory quotient (RQ) and beta-hydroxybutyrate levels in a subset of GCR patients.
Main Results:
- Lung cancer patients exhibited significantly increased REE per kg fat-free mass compared to controls (p < 0.01).
- GCR cancer patients did not show elevated REE; however, some reported decreased food intake.
- Semi-starving GCR patients displayed significant weight loss, low RQ, and high beta-hydroxybutyrate, without increased REE.
Conclusions:
- Weight loss in GCR cancer patients is primarily driven by decreased energy intake.
- Weight loss in lung cancer patients results from a combination of increased resting energy expenditure and relatively low energy intake.
- Distinct metabolic derangements contribute to weight loss in different cancer types, necessitating tailored nutritional support strategies.
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