Characterization of a transplantable adenocarcinoma of the mouse colon producing cachexia in recipient animals

MAC16 is a chemically induced, transplantable adenocarcinoma of the colon passaged in inbred NMRI mice. At small tumor burdens (less than 1% of the host weight), weight loss was observed without a reduction in food intake. As the tumor mass increased, weight loss also increased and reached 33% of host body weight in females and 20% in males when compared with the weight of age-matched controls. The reduction in host body weight was directly proportional to the tumor size and was reversible when the tumor was excised. There was a preferential loss of body fat in tumor-bearing animals with an increase in the plasma level of free fatty acids, although there was a minimal elevation of ketone bodies. Tumor growth was accompanied by progressive hypoglycemia and a reduction in the plasma insulin levels. The decrease in plasma insulin may have contributed to the catabolic effects of progressive tumor growth.