Abstract
Cancer anorexia-cachexia syndrome (CACS), which is characterized by progressive weight loss (WL) and anorexia (A), is present in 51% of advanced cancer patients and in 80% of terminally ill cancer patients. One of the most controversial aspects of CACS is its oetiopathogenesis; experimental studies have identified certain cytokines [Tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), interleukin 1 (IL-1), interleukin 6 (IL-6), and gamma interferon (γ-IFN)] as possible co-factors in the onset of the syndrome. The aim of our study was to investigate the correlation between serum levels of circulating cytokines and severity of CACS. The following series of parameters was indentified in 61 patients with advanced and terminal cancer: stage of disease; Karnofsky performance status (KPS) and clinical symptoms; biohumoral, anthropometric and immunological situation; level of circulating cytokines. All these parameters were evaluated for a possible link with WL/A. Our data do not show any significant correlation between circulating cytokines and WL/A. A direct correlation was identified between WL/A and nausea (P=0.03 and P
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 130-135 |
Number of pages | 6 |
Journal | Supportive Care in Cancer |
Volume | 5 |
Issue number | 2 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - Mar 1997 |
Keywords
- Anorexia
- Cachexia
- Cancer
- Interferon
- Interleukin
- tumour necrosis factor
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Oncology
- Nursing(all)