Ghrelin: from discovery to cancer cachexia therapy.

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Endocrinology
• Muscle Physiology

Background:

• Cancer cachexia significantly impairs patient prognosis and quality of life.
• Effective therapeutic strategies for cancer cachexia remain limited.
• Ghrelin, a peptide hormone, influences anabolic and homeostatic functions with potential benefits in cancer cachexia.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review novel evidence on the therapeutic administration of ghrelin in cancer.
• To focus on ghrelin's role in counteracting cancer-related loss of body mass and function, particularly muscle wasting.

Main Methods:

• Review of recent research on ghrelin and synthetic ghrelin receptor agonists for cancer cachexia.
• Analysis of different administration modalities and tissue-specific targeting.
• Investigation of ghrelin's mechanisms of action, including systemic and muscle-specific effects.

Main Results:

• Ghrelin and its agonists demonstrate positive effects in treating cancer cachexia and chemotherapy-induced muscle wasting.
• Therapies involving ghrelin have shown efficacy in counteracting loss of body mass and muscle function.
• New insights reveal ghrelin's anti-inflammatory and muscle-specific antiatrophic actions.

Conclusions:

• Ghrelin is emerging as a promising therapeutic option for cancer cachexia.
• Ghrelin is well-tolerated and effective in counteracting structural and functional wasting associated with tumor growth.