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Malnutrition, Cachexia, and Quality of Life in Patients with Cancer

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  • First Online:
Handbook of Famine, Starvation, and Nutrient Deprivation

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Abstract

Cancer has become one of the most common and devastating health problems in the aging population worldwide. Patients often suffer from a range of complications associated with cancer and cancer treatments that impact their quality of life and may reduce overall survival. Among those secondary to cancer and treatment are malnutrition and cachexia, which may be a result of the malignancy itself or of the treatment approaches, especially chemotherapy. Depending on the specific cancer type and stage, the prevalence of cachexia ranges from 28% to 57% as evaluated by clinical trials. This chapter will address the following topics related to malnutrition and cancer cachexia:

  • Contributing factors to the development of malnutrition and cachexia

  • Underlying pathophysiology and biochemical derangement

  • Potential biochemical screening markers for malnutrition and cachexia

  • Current and future treatment approaches and preventative strategies

The chapter furthermore aims to provide a best practices approach to guide clinicians in the diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of cancer cachexia to optimize quality of life for the patient and improve survival.

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Abbreviations

5-HT:

5-hydroxytryptamine, serotonin

BIA:

Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis

CaMKII:

Calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II

CNS:

Central nervous system

CRP:

C-reactive protein

EMA:

European Medicines Agency

EPA:

Eicosapentaenoic acid

FDA:

Food & Drug Administration

GHSR:

Ghrelin/growth hormone secretagogue receptor

HPA:

Hypothalamus pituitary adrenal

IGF:

Insulin-like growth factor

IL:

Interleukin

MNA-SF:

Mini Nutritional-Assessment Short-Form

mRNA:

Messenger ribonucleic acid

MST:

Malnutrition Screening Tool

MUST:

Malnutrition Universal Screening Tool

NRS-2002:

Nutrition Risk Screening 2002

PG-SGA:

Patient Generated Subjective Global Assessment

POMC:

Proopiomelanocortin

RR:

Relative risk

SARM:

Selective androgen receptor modulator

TNF:

Tumor necrosis factor

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Medicinal Chemistry, College of Pharmacy, Department of Behavioral Nursing Science, College of Nursing, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA

    Oliver Grundmann

  2. Department of Behavioral Nursing Science, College of Nursing, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA

    Saunjoo L. Yoon

  3. Sunshine Integrative Health, Gainesville, FL, USA

    Joseph J. Williams

Authors
  1. Oliver Grundmann
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  2. Saunjoo L. Yoon
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  3. Joseph J. Williams
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Oliver Grundmann .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Diabetes and Nutritional Sciences Research Division, Faculty of Life Science and Medicine, King’s College London, London, UK

    Victor R. Preedy

  2. School of Life Sciences, University of Westminster, London, UK

    Vinood B. Patel

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Grundmann, O., Yoon, S.L., Williams, J.J. (2019). Malnutrition, Cachexia, and Quality of Life in Patients with Cancer. In: Preedy, V., Patel, V. (eds) Handbook of Famine, Starvation, and Nutrient Deprivation. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-55387-0_56

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-55387-0_56

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-319-55386-3

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-319-55387-0

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