Probing cancer cachexia-anorexia: recent results with knockout, transgene and polymorphisms

Association of the rs3917647 polymorphism of the SELP gene with malnutrition in gastric cancer

BACKGROUND

Malnutrition and cachexia are common syndromes in patients with gastric cancer (GC) and are associated with poor quality of life and poor disease prognosis. However, there is still a lack of molecular factors that can predict malnutrition or cachexia in cancer. Studies have shown that among the potential contributors to the development of cancer cachexia, the level of the inflammatory response to P-selectin is regulated by single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) located in the promoter region of the SELP gene. The aim of this study was to evaluate the association between the single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP)-2028 A/G of the SELP gene and malnutrition in patients receiving chemotherapy for gastric cancer (GC).

METHODS

The study group consisted of 220 GC patients treated with chemotherapy at Jinhua Municipal Central Hospital. DNA was extracted from peripheral leukocytes of whole blood samples using an animal DNA extraction kit. DNA was amplified using a 1.1 × T3 Super PCR mix, and loci corresponding to the peaks were genotyped using SNP1 software.

RESULTS

Patients carrying the A allele had a reduced risk of developing malnutrition compared to patients with the GG genotype (P < 0.001; OR = 3.411; 95% CI = 1.785-6.516). In addition, multivariate analysis indicated that the AA genotype significantly (more than 16-fold) reduced the risk of developing malnutrition (P < 0.001; OR = 0.062; 95% CI = 0.015-0.255).

CONCLUSION

SELP -2028A/G SNP may be a useful marker for assessing the risk of malnutrition in GC patients.

TNFRSF1A Gene Polymorphism (−610 T > G, rs4149570) as a Predictor of Malnutrition and a Prognostic Factor in Patients Subjected to Intensity-Modulated Radiation Therapy Due to Head and Neck Cancer

Background: Malnutrition is a nutritional disorder observed in 52% of patients with head and neck cancer (HNC). Malnutrition is frequently related to the increased level of proinflammatory cytokines. In turn, ongoing inflammation is associated with increased catabolism of skeletal muscle and lipolysis. Tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α) is a proinflammatory cytokine that plays a pivotal role in the development of malnutrition and cachexia in cancer patients. The aim of the study was to assess the relationship between a functional single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) −610 T > G (rs4149570) of the TNFRSF1A gene and the occurrence of nutritional disorders in patients subjected to RT due to HNC. Methods: The study group consisted of 77 patients with HNC treated at the Oncology Department of the Medical University in Lublin. Genotyping of the TNFRSF1A gene was performed using capillary electrophoresis (Genetic Analyzer 3500). Results: Multivariable analysis revealed that the TT genotype of the TNFRSF1A gene (−610 T > G) was an independent predictor of severe malnutrition (odds ratio—OR = 5.05; p = 0.0350). Moreover, the TT genotype of this gene was independently related to a higher risk of critical weight loss (CWL) (OR = 24.85; p = 0.0009). Conclusions: SNP (−610 T > G) of the TNFRSF1A may be a useful marker in the assessment of the risk of nutritional deficiencies in HNC patients treated with intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT).

Pre-treatment effects of peripheral tumors on brain and behavior: neuroinflammatory mechanisms in humans and rodents

Cancer patients suffer high levels of affective and cognitive disturbances, which have been attributed to diagnosis-related distress, impairment of quality of life, and side effects of primary treatment. An inflammatory microenvironment is also a feature of the vast majority of solid tumors. However, the ability of tumor-associated biological processes to affect the central nervous system (CNS) has only recently been explored in the context of symptoms of depression and cognitive disturbances. In this review, we summarize the burgeoning evidence from rodent cancer models that solid tumors alter neurobiological pathways and subsequent behavioral processes with relevance to affective and cognitive disturbances reported in human cancer populations. We consider, in parallel, the evidence from human clinical cancer research demonstrating that affective and cognitive disturbances are common in some malignancies prior to diagnosis and treatment. We further consider the underlying neurobiological pathways, including altered neuroinflammation, tryptophan metabolism, prostaglandin synthesis and associated neuroanatomical changes, that are most strongly implicated in the rodent literature and supported by analogous evidence from human cancer populations. We focus on the implications of these findings for behavioral researchers and clinicians, with particular emphasis on methodological issues and areas of future research.

Interleukin-10 gene polymorphisms influence susceptibility to cachexia in patients with low-third gastric cancer in a Chinese population

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE

Interleukin (IL)-10 is a pleiotropic cytokine that can both stimulate and suppress the immune response. Previous studies have reported that IL-10 production was significantly elevated in cachectic patients, and it has been confirmed that polymorphisms of the IL10 gene could influence its expression. Therefore, we designed this study to investigate whether polymorphisms of the IL10 gene were associated with cachexia in patients with low-third gastric cancer in a Chinese population.

METHODS

190 patients with low-third gastric cancer were included in this study. The serum levels of IL-10 were measured by radioimmunoassay. The single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) at positions -1082A/G, -819T/C, and -592A/C in the IL10 gene promoter were analyzed using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP).

RESULTS

The serum levels of IL-10 were significantly higher in patients with cachexia than in those without (Z = -10.66, p < 0.001). Single SNP analysis showed that the frequency of the IL10 -1082G allele was increased in patients with cachexia (p = 0.02). The -1082AG and -819CC genotypes were observed to be associated with an increased risk of cachexia. In a logistic regression analysis adjusted for actual weight and carcinoma stage, the -1082AG genotype was associated with an odds ratio (OR) of 2.45 (95% CI 1.21, 4.96; p = 0.01), and the -819CC genotype was associated with an OR of 3.70 (95% CI 1.20, 11.39; p = 0.02) for cachexia. Furthermore, haplotype analysis of the -1082A/G, -819T/C, and -592A/C SNPs revealed that at least five haplotypes (ATA, ACC, GCC, ACA, and ATC) were present in this Chinese population, and the -1082G/-819C/-592C (GCC) haplotype was associated with a significantly increased risk of cachexia as compared with the ATA haplotype (OR = 2.42; 95% CI 1.17, 5.00; p = 0.02).

CONCLUSION

Our results indicate that genetic polymorphisms of IL-10 may influence susceptibility to cachexia in patients with low-third gastric cancer in this Chinese population.

Association of interleukin-8 with cachexia from patients with low-third gastric cancer

Background. Interleukin (IL)-8 has been implicated in the development of cancer cachexia. The polymorphism of IL-8 gene, which may affect the production level of IL-8, may be associated with cancer cachexia. Methods. The serum IL-8 level in our study was examined by radioimmunoassay. We also analyzed single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) −251 A/T and +781 C/T of IL-8 gene, using polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP). Results. The serum levels of IL-8 were significantly elevated in patients with low-third gastric cancer compared with controls, and were further up-regulated in patients with cachexia than those without (Z = −3.134, P = .002). A significantly increased frequency of +781 T allele was noted in patients with cachexia (OR = 2.247, 95% CI: 1.351–3.737, P = .002). The +781 TT genotype was observed to be associated with a significantly increased risk of cachexia (OR = 3.167, 95% CI: 1.265–7.929, P = .011), and with odds ratio of 3.033 (95% CI: 1.065–8.639, P = .038) for cachexia after adjusting for potential confounding factors. Meanwhile, haplotype analysis indicated a borderline positive association between T²⁵¹T⁷⁸¹ haplotype and cachexia as compared with the T²⁵¹C⁷⁸¹ haplotype (OR = 4.92, 95% CI: 1.00–24.28;, P = .053). Conclusions. IL-8 appears to be associated with cachexia from patients with low-third gastric cancer.