Lack of significant changes in nutrition-related parameters with tumor necrosis factor treatment of cancer

Cancer and its therapies frequently produce anorexia and cachexia. In this study, the acute (3 days) and chronic (4 wks) nutrition-related effects of cancer therapy with recombinant human tumor necrosis factor (rHuTNF) were investigated and described. Nutritional status, as measured by body weight and body composition (body fat and lean-to-fat ratio) with use of bioelectrical impedance, did not appear to deteriorate. None of the serum lipids changed significantly, but triglycerides did rise modestly over four weeks of therapy. Glucose and the peptide hormones (insulin, C-peptide, glucagon, and pancreatic polypeptide) thought to affect appetite did not change with rHuTNF therapy. Therefore, although TNF is thought to contribute to wasting in animal models, it had no negative effect on nutritional status in our small sample. The lack of adverse effect noted in this study is possibly due to the low dose level of rHuTNF or to adaptation.