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Mateen Sayyed1*, Shaikh MF 2, Aziz-ur-Raheman1, Jabeen1, Syed YH1
1MESCO College of Pharmacy, Hyderabad-500006, India.
2Department of Neuroscience, Brain Research Institute, Monash University, Selengor-46150, Malaysia.

REVIEW ARTICLE
Volume 2, Issue 1, Jan-April 2014, Page 58-63.

Article history
Received: 15 January 2014
Revised: 25 January 2014
Accepted: 25 March 2014
Early view: 25 April 2014

*Author for correspondence
E-mail: abdulmateenpharma@gmail.com

Keywords:
Cachexia
Anorexia
Cytokines
Sarcopenia
IGF-I.

ABSTRACT
Cancer cachexia syndrome is a frequent and important complication of cancer. It is the most devastating and life-threatening aspects of cancer which occur in 30% to 80% cancer patients. But unfortunately cachexia is often not observed at the time of diagnosis of cancer. While the initial medical intervention for cancer patients includes antitumor therapy and pain management, the consequences of cachexia and anorexia may be unnoticed, to the detriment of the patient’s quality of life and his or her potential response to chemotherapy. The importance of a clearly defined therapeutic approach to treat cachexia is to improve the patient’s overall wellbeing. It includes anorexia, loss of weight, weakness and impaired immune function. The cause of the syndrome still remains unclear. Many endocrinological and metabolic abnormalities are present, like hypermetabolism, glucose intolerance, increased proteolysis and lipolysis. Presented is a review of the Pathophysiology & pharmacological management of cachexia. Cancer cachexia arises from a complex interaction between the cancer and the host. This development includes cytokine production, release of proteolysis-inducing and lipid-mobilizing factors, and modification in intermediary metabolism. Main role in the development of cancer cachexia is played by cytokines: TNF, interleukin 1 and 6, interferon alfa and gamma.