There are few treatments available for the muscle wasting that cancer patients experience, but scientists may have found a new target for alleviate this debilitating side effect.
Cancer-related muscle wasting, also called cachexia, is a condition characterized by the loss of muscle mass and function. It is often accompanied by fatigue, weakness, and weight loss.
Cachexia is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in cancer patients, and there is currently no effective treatment.
Now, researchers have found that targeting an enzyme called adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase (AMPK) could help to prevent muscle wasting in cancer patients.
AMPK is a key regulator of energy balance in cells, and previous studies have shown that it is inhibited in cancer cachexia.
In a new study, published in the journal Clinical Cancer Research, scientists found that activating AMPK in mouse models of cancer cachexia resulted in the prevention of muscle loss.
Moreover, the treatment was effective in both pre- cachectic and cachectic mice, suggesting that it could be used to treat cancer patients at any stage of the disease.
The findings of this study offer a potential new treatment option for cancer cachexia and could improve the quality of life for cancer patients.
Cancer patients often experience muscle wasting, which can lead to frailty and a decrease in quality of life. Researchers at the University of Surrey have found that targeting a specific enzyme could alleviate muscle wasting in cancer patients.
The enzyme, called MuRF1, is found in muscles and is responsible for breaking down proteins. When MuRF1 is overactive, it can lead to muscle wasting. In a study of mice, the Surrey team found that targeting MuRF1 with a small molecule inhibitor prevented muscle wasting and improved quality of life.
The study’s lead author, Dr. Emma other said, “This is a significant step forward in the fight against cancer cachexia.” Cachexia is a wasting syndrome that often accompanies cancer and can lead to weight loss, muscle atrophy, and weakness.
There is currently no cure for cachexia, and treatments are limited. The Surrey team’s findings could pave the way for new treatments that target MuRF1 and alleviate muscle wasting in cancer patients.
