Metabolic abnormalities in cancer patients: carbohydrate metabolism

Weight loss in patients with a variety of cancers is associated with a poor prognosis. Consistent abnormalities of carbohydrate metabolism are seen in cancer patients with weight loss and appear to represent derangements in host metabolism that are induced by the presence of cancer. To define therapeutic strategies to improve the poor clinical outcome for patients with cancer cachexia, investigations are under way to define the relationships among glucose metabolism, altered energy expenditure, caloric intake, weight loss, and clinical outcome.