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Updated: May 25, 2026
The Colon-26 Carcinoma Tumor-bearing Mouse as a Model for the Study of Cancer Cachexia
Published on: November 30, 2016
Sexual dimorphism modulates the impact of cancer cachexia on lower limb muscle mass and function
Nathan A Stephens1, Calum Gray, Alisdair J MacDonald
1Department of Clinical and Surgical Sciences Surgery, School of Clinical Sciences and Community Health, University of Edinburgh, Royal Infirmary, 51 Little France Crescent, Edinburgh EH16 4SA, UK. nathanas@doctors.org.uk
Background & Aims:
There is a sparsity of data on the impact of cachexia on human muscle function. This study examined the relationship between cachexia, quality of life and the mass/function/mechanical quality of lower limb skeletal muscle in gastrointestinal cancer patients.
Methods:
Quadriceps strength and lower limb power were measured in 54 patients with gastrointestinal cancer (n = 24 ≥ 10% weight-loss) and 18 healthy controls. Quadriceps cross-sectional area was measured in 33/54 patients and in all controls using MRI. Muscle mechanical quality was defined as quadriceps strength/unit quadriceps cross-sectional area. Quality of life was assessed using the EORTC QLQ-C30. Patients with weight-loss ≥ 10% were classified as cachectic.
Results:
In male cachectic patients, quadriceps strength (p = 0.003), lower limb power (p = 0.026), quadriceps cross-sectional area (p = 0.019) and muscle quality (p = 0.008) were reduced compared with controls. In female cachectic patients, quadriceps strength (p = 0.001) and muscle quality (p = 0.001) were reduced compared with controls. Physical function (p = 0.013) and fatigue (p = 0.004) quality of life scores were reduced in male cachectic compared with non-cachectic patients, but not in females.
Conclusions:
Muscle quality is reduced in cancer patients. The degree of impairment of lower limb muscle mass, quality and function and the impact on quality of life varies with weight-loss and sex.
