Multi-Organ DIA Proteomics Reveals a Shared Xenobiotic Metabolism Stress Program in a Patient-Derived Xenograft Model

Julia Osaki1, Yomogi Shiota1, Kazuyoshi Yanagihara1

  • 1Division of Rare Cancer Research, National Cancer Center, Chuo-ku, Tokyo, Japan.

Proteomics
|August 17, 2026
PubMed

Insights

Cancer cachexia causes severe organ wasting and proteome remodeling. A key finding is the systemic alteration of xenobiotic metabolism, impacting detoxification and drug efficacy in patients.

Area of Science:

  • Biochemistry
  • Molecular Biology
  • Oncology

Background:

  • Cancer cachexia is a complex syndrome with significant weight loss and organ dysfunction.
  • The underlying proteomic mechanisms driving synchronized organ remodeling in cachexia are not fully understood.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the multi-organ proteome remodeling in a preclinical cancer cachexia model.
  • To identify shared and organ-specific molecular pathways involved in cachexia.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized data-independent acquisition (DIA) proteomics in a xenograft mouse model with cachexia-inducing neuroendocrine carcinoma cells (AkuNEC).
  • Performed quantitative proteomic profiling across multiple organs (heart, liver, kidney, skeletal muscle).

Main Results:

  • Observed severe wasting and extensive proteome remodeling in heart, liver, kidney, and skeletal muscle of AkuNEC-bearing mice.
  • Identified xenobiotic metabolism as a consistently altered pathway across all affected organs, indicating systemic chemical stress.
  • Discovered organ-specific alterations, including mTORC1 signaling suppression in liver, heart, and kidney, and coagulation pathway activation in skeletal muscle.

Conclusions:

  • Established a comprehensive multi-organ proteomic framework for cancer cachexia.
  • Highlighted systemic remodeling of xenobiotic and endobiotic stress pathways as a unifying feature of cachexia.
  • Provided a molecular basis for altered drug pharmacokinetics and toxicity in cachexia patients due to compromised detoxification capacity.

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