Cancer Cachexia: Innovations in Pharmacotherapy for Terminal-Stage Patients - Review of the latest reports
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.12775/JEHS.2025.77.56667Keywords
cancer cachexia, palliative care, cachexia pharmacotherapyAbstract
Introduction and purpose
Cachexia is a complex and multifactorial syndrome, which is a current, worldwide treatment challenge, and concerns most of the patients with cancer. The issue is characterized by anorexia, skeletal muscle loss, adipose tissue wasting, involuntary weight loss, malnutrition, and poor appetite due to dysfunction of metabolism and chronic, systemic inflammation. Additionally, it impacts oncological treatment and a decline in Quality of Life. The review aims to explore the latest research, innovations, and potentials in the treatment of cachexia.
Material and methods
The review was based on research of articles published from 2019 to 2024 on the PubMed database using the following keywords: cancer cachexia, palliative care, and cachexia pharmacotherapy.
Results
Anamorelin, a selective ghrelin receptor agonist showed effectiveness in weight gain and appetite improvement. Also, myostatin inhibitors protect muscles and promote their growth due to suppression of myostatin. Ponsegromab, a GDF-15 inhibitor, significantly and directly enhanced muscle mass, appetite, and quality of life, with good safety. Modern anti-inflammatory medications like momelotynib or tocilizumab, reduced the concentration of pro-inflammatory cytokines and improved quality of life, however, but posed immunosuppression risk. Pentoxifylline declined inflammation and chemotherapy toxicity, and improved body weight and survival. Cannabinoids alleviated chemotherapy-induced nausea but were ineffective for weight and quality of life.
Conclusions
Therapeutic approaches target various aspects of cachexia due to its complex pathophysiology. Anamorelin, ponsegromab, and myostatin inhibitors have clinical potential. Modern anti-inflammatory drugs and pentoxifylline offer supportive benefits. Further research is vital for developing effective and safe treatment guidelines for cancer cachexia.
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Copyright (c) 2025 Kinga Witowska, Karolina Sacher, Negar Hosseinnejad; Mikolaj Biskupski; Mariola Turemka, Aneta Mandziuk, Urszula Korotko, Krystyna Zabojska, Aneta Klaudia Wojtas, Aleksandra Cygnarowicz
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