Do anti-angiogenic cancer therapies increase risk of significant weight loss?

Shuang Zhang1, Min Yu, Yuquan Wei

  • 1Sichuan University, West China Hospital, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center , Chengdu 610041 , China.

Abstract

Insights

Anti-angiogenic cancer therapies generally do not cause significant weight loss, offering a favorable safety profile. However, some multikinase inhibitors in clinical trials showed a potential association, requiring further investigation.

Area of Science:

  • Oncology
  • Pharmacology

Background:

  • Angiogenesis plays a critical role in various diseases, notably cancer.
  • Anti-angiogenic drugs are widely used in cancer treatment.
  • Current anti-angiogenic therapies can lead to patient adverse effects.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the evidence linking anti-angiogenic therapies with weight loss.
  • To analyze data from basic experiments and clinical trials on weight changes during anti-angiogenic cancer treatment.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of studies investigating anti-angiogenic therapies and weight loss.
  • Analysis of data from preclinical experiments and human clinical trials.

Main Results:

  • Limited strong associations between most anti-angiogenic cancer therapies and weight loss were identified.
  • An exception was noted for certain multikinase inhibitors evaluated in clinical trials.

Conclusions:

  • Anti-angiogenic cancer therapies demonstrate a generally safe profile concerning weight loss.
  • Further clinical trials are necessary to definitively establish the relationship between these therapies and weight changes.

Related Concept Videos

Cancer Therapies02:49

Cancer Therapies

Cancer therapies are various modes of treatment, such as surgery, radiation therapy, and chemotherapy that are administered to cancer patients.
However, cancer treatments can pose several challenges, as therapies used to kill cancer cells are generally also toxic to normal cells. Moreover, cancer cells mutate rapidly and can develop resistance to chemical agents or radiation therapy. Besides, all types of cancer cells may not respond to the same therapy. Some cancer cells respond to one...
8.5K
Targeted Cancer Therapies02:57

Targeted Cancer Therapies

The targeted cancer therapies, also known as “molecular targeted therapies,” take advantage of the molecular and genetic differences between the cancer cells and the normal cells. It needs a thorough understanding of the cancer cells to develop drugs that can target specific molecular aspects that drive the growth, progression, and spread of cancer cells without affecting the growth and survival of other normal cells in the body.
There are several types of targeted therapies against...
7.0K
Combination Therapies and Personalized Medicine02:50

Combination Therapies and Personalized Medicine

Combining two or more treatment methods increases the life span of cancer patients while reducing damage to vital organs or tissue from the overuse of a single treatment. Combination therapy also targets different cancer-inducing pathways, thus reducing the chances of developing resistance to treatment.
The combination of the drug acetazolamide and sulforaphane is a good example of combination therapy to treat cancer. The cells in the interior of a large tumor often die due to the hypoxic and...
4.9K
Adaptive Mechanisms in Cancer Cells02:53

Adaptive Mechanisms in Cancer Cells

Cancer cells accumulate genetic changes at an abnormally rapid rate due to the defects in the DNA repair mechanisms. From an evolutionary perspective, such genetic instability is advantageous for cancer development. Mutant cell lines accumulate a series of beneficial mutations that contribute to their progression into cancer.
Some of the advantages that cancer cells have on normal cells include - enhanced ability to divide without terminally differentiating, induce new blood vessel formation,...
5.7K
Regulation of Angiogenesis and Blood Supply01:24

Regulation of Angiogenesis and Blood Supply

Rapidly dividing tumors, embryos, and wounded tissues require more oxygen than usual, lowering the oxygen concentration in the blood. At low oxygen or hypoxic conditions, an oxygen-sensitive transcription factor called the hypoxia-inducible factor 1 or HIF1 is activated. HIF1 is a dimeric protein of alpha (ɑ) and beta (β) subunits.  Under optimal oxygen conditions, HIF1β is present in the nucleus while HIF1ɑ remains in the cytosol. HIF1ɑ is hydroxylated by prolyl...
2.9K