Emerging drugs for cancer cachexia

Abstract

Cachexia is a complex syndrome. The main components of this pathological state are anorexia and metabolic abnormalities such as glucose intolerance, fat depletion and muscle protein catabolism among others. The altered metabolic status generates a high degree of energetic inefficiency that results in weight loss, fatigue and a considerable loss of muscle and, therefore, asthenia. The aim of the present article is to review the different therapeutic approaches and emerging drugs that have been designed to fight and counteract cachexia associated with cancer.

Keywords::

• anorexia
• cachexia
• cancer
• therapy
• tumour

Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank F LÓpez Soriano and S Busquets Rius for their help in writing the manuscript.