A debilitating side effect for up to 80% of cancer patients – the loss of muscle and fat known as cachexia – is now the focus of groundbreaking research out of Germany. Scientists at the Hannover medical School have identified how inflammatory signals from cancer cells directly attack muscle function, leading to cell death and notable weakness. The study, published today, offers a potential new target for therapies aimed at improving quality of life and treatment outcomes for millions battling the disease, with findings perhaps impacting approaches to care alongside existing methods like nutrition and exercise [[3]].
Up to 80 percent of individuals battling cancer experience significant loss of both fat and muscle mass, a condition known as cachexia. Now, researchers at the Hannover Medical School in Germany have pinpointed how inflammatory signals released by cancer cells disrupt muscle function, ultimately leading to muscle cell death.
Cancer Signals Alter Muscle Cells
The study reveals that these signals directly interfere with muscle cell metabolism, actively changing the cells themselves. Crucially, they also reduce the amount of calcium released by muscle cells. Calcium is essential for muscle contraction, strength, and overall function – and this disruption can significantly weaken patients, even impacting the heart muscle.
Why Muscles Lose Strength in Cancer Patients
Experiments using muscle cells from mice and rats demonstrated that the internal structure of muscle cells is compromised by these cancer-related signals. Specifically, the smallest functional units of muscle, called sarcomeres, are affected. “We observed a drastic loss of contraction in striated muscle cells in cancer-induced cachexia, primarily attributable to acutely disorganized sarcomere structures and impaired calcium transport processes,” explained Dr. Arnab Nayak in a statement accompanying the publication of the research. The signals also trigger the breakdown of proteins within muscle cells that are still needed, leading to progressive muscle destruction.
A Potential New Therapeutic Approach
Current strategies to combat muscle loss in cancer patients focus on nutritional supplements, exercise, and medications. The Hannover research team took a different approach, manipulating a specific signaling pathway to keep two key proteins – SENP3 and SENP7 – active within the cells. “In our investigation, we upregulated SENP3 and SENP7 and observed a reduction in muscle breakdown,” Nayak reported. This intervention helped maintain muscle cell functionality. Further studies in animal models are planned to determine if this method is effective within a living organism.
This research offers a promising new avenue for developing therapies to address the debilitating muscle loss experienced by many cancer patients, potentially improving their quality of life and treatment outcomes. The findings are published in the journal DOI 10.1002/jcsm.13776.
