Publikation

Is there a genetic cause for cancer cachexia? - a clinical validation study in 1797 patients

Wissenschaftlicher Artikel/Review - 20.09.2011

Bereiche
PubMed
DOI

Zitation
Solheim T, Strasser F, Klepstad P, Baracos V, Fearon K, Skorpen F, Tan B, Fladvad T, Fayers P, Kaasa S. Is there a genetic cause for cancer cachexia? - a clinical validation study in 1797 patients. Br J Cancer 2011; 105:1244-51.
Art
Wissenschaftlicher Artikel/Review (Englisch)
Zeitschrift
Br J Cancer 2011; 105
Veröffentlichungsdatum
20.09.2011
eISSN (Online)
1532-1827
Seiten
1244-51
Kurzbeschreibung/Zielsetzung

Background:Cachexia has major impact on cancer patients' morbidity and mortality. Future development of cachexia treatment needs methods for early identification of patients at risk. The aim of the study was to validate nine single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) previously associated with cachexia, and to explore 182 other candidate SNPs with the potential to be involved in the pathophysiology.Method:A total of 1797 cancer patients, classified as either having severe cachexia, mild cachexia or no cachexia, were genotyped.Results:After allowing for multiple testing, there was no statistically significant association between any of the SNPs analysed and the cachexia groups. However, consistent with prior reports, two SNPs from the acylpeptide hydrolase (APEH) gene showed suggestive statistical significance (P=0.02; OR, 0.78).Conclusion:This study failed to detect any significant association between any of the SNPs analysed and cachexia; although two SNPs from the APEH gene had a trend towards significance. The APEH gene encodes the enzyme APEH, postulated to be important in the endpoint of the ubiquitin system and thus the breakdown of proteins into free amino acids. In cachexia, there is an extensive breakdown of muscle proteins and an increase in the production of acute phase proteins in the liver.