Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jan 3, 2026
08:55
The Colon-26 Carcinoma Tumor-bearing Mouse as a Model for the Study of Cancer Cachexia
Published on: November 30, 2016
17.0K
The animal cachexia score (ACASCO).
Angelica Betancourt1, Sílvia Busquets1,2, Marta Ponce1
1Cancer Research Group, Departament de Bioquímica i Biomedicina Molecular, Facultat de Biologia Universitat de Barcelona Barcelona Spain.
Animal Models and Experimental Medicine
|November 28, 2019
Summary
A new Animal Cachexia Score (ACASCO) was developed and validated in rat and mouse models. This score effectively categorizes cancer cachexia severity, aiding pre-clinical research.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Translational Medicine
- Animal Models
Background:
- Cancer cachexia lacks standardized severity measures in experimental models.
- Previous human scoring systems have not been adapted for animal studies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop and validate a novel Animal Cachexia Score (ACASCO).
- To establish a reliable tool for assessing cancer cachexia severity in preclinical rat and mouse models.
Main Methods:
- Utilized Yoshida AH-130ascites hepatoma (rat), Lewis lung carcinoma, and Colon26 carcinoma (mouse) models.
- Developed ACASCO incorporating body/muscle weight loss, inflammation, performance, anorexia, and quality of life.
- Applied hierarchical cluster analysis to define severity cut-offs.
Main Results:
- ACASCO successfully classified subjects into four distinct groups: no cachexia, mild, moderate, and advanced cachexia.
- Validated the score's utility across different tumor models and species.
- Established three cut-off values for objective severity assessment.
Conclusions:
- ACASCO is a valuable tool for preclinical cancer cachexia research.
- The score can serve as a primary endpoint in evaluating therapeutic strategies.
- Facilitates standardized assessment in drug development for cancer cachexia.
