Evaluating potential biomarkers of cachexia and survival in skeletal muscle of upper gastrointestinal cancer patients.

ABSTRACT:

Background

In order to grow the potential therapeutic armamentarium in the cachexia domain of supportive oncology, there is a pressing need to develop suitable biomarkers and potential drug targets. This pilot study evaluated several potential candidate biomarkers in skeletal muscle biopsies from a cohort of upper gastrointestinal cancer (UGIC) patients.

Methods

One hundred seven patients (15 weight-stable healthy controls (HC) and 92 UGIC patients) were recruited. Mean (standard deviation) weight-loss of UGIC patients was 8.1 (9.3%). Cachexia was defined as weight-loss ≥5%. Rectus abdominis muscle was obtained at surgery and was analysed by western blotting or quantitative real-time-polymerase chain reaction. Candidate markers were selected according to previous literature

SUBMITTER: Stephens NA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4435097 | biostudies-literature | 2015 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature