Pancreatic cancerrelated cachexia: influence on metabolism and correlation to weight loss and pulmonary function - Article Example

Article review Introduction The article under consideration is “Pancreatic cancerrelated cachexia: influence on metabolism and correlation to weightloss and pulmonary function”. Weight loss can serve as an indicator of many diseases. Many people want to become slim and beautiful, however, dramatic weight loss is very dangerous for human organism. The work is very valuable as its main goal is to determine the connection between the weight loss and pancreatic cancer The analysis of the symptoms of the patients shows that there can be always some indicators, which are in the shadow.

When we talk about pancreatic cancer the weight loss can serve as such shadow. The noticeable loss in weight is called cachexia and 80% of the patients, who suffered from the pancreatic cancer, lost at least 10% of the weight they had before. The main goal of the given work is to find out the role of cachexia in diagnosing pancreatic cancer and in the progressing of the disease. In order to come to the corresponding conclusions, the researchers studied 198 patients who suffer from pancreatic cancer.

They described the main steps of their research as follows: “In this study of 198 patients with a ductal adenocarcinoma of the pancreas we assessed the prevalence of cachexia and its systemic effects. To show an influence of cachectic status on lung function tests and muscle and fat tissue in patients before pancreatic surgery, corresponding data were acquired in selected areas using CT scans. Furthermore, we studied the influence of a dramatic weight loss on postoperative survival” (Bachmann1 et al 2009: 6) The results of the study showed that the cachexia can be the indicator of progressing tumor as 70% of 198 investigated patients went through dramatic weight loss.

Those patients who lose weight have fewer chances to survive. The percent of weight that was lost also can help diagnose the disease. It was determined that 10% of lost weight should serve as an alarm and testifies about serious negative changes in the organism. Weight loss is natural for patients who suffer from cancer as they usually consume less food. Their organism become weaker and they lose appetite as a consequence. The scientists offered the statistics which help define the interconnections between the weight and the tumor condition.

When metastases are found in the liver the resection rate becomes lower. The extreme weight loss can become the reason of the tumor progressing. The health condition of the patient with cancer depends on his/her weight. The consequence of the weight loss of 5% is less serious than in the cases, when the number jumps up to 10%. Researchers state: “A weight loss of 10% had a significant systemic effect, which was not as strong as for a 5% weight loss; the resection rate was also significantly worse when weight loss exceeded 5%, but the nutritional status showed significant differences only when the division parameter was weight loss of 10%” (Bachmann1 et al 2009: 8) It is important to mention that some symptoms cannot be noticed until the weight becomes lower.

Patients who suffer from cachexia usually have fast progressing tumor, their nutrition changes as their appetite becomes worse. By losing weight the patients lose their chance to recover. 10% loss of weight should serve as a signal for patients and doctors. Loosing appetite is also an important signal which can help diagnose many dangerous diseases. The researchers suggest that patients who suffer from pancreatic cancer should be divided according to the percent of weight loss. Those who lost 10% of weight have fewer chances to survive, thus they should be paid special attention and their treatment should include special procedures.

The recent study by Royal et al also proves the connection between weight loss and cancer. In this study the authors emphasize the weight loss as an indicator of the disease in the process of diagnosing (Royal et al, 2011). The study of Hirooka et al also mentions the importance of considering weight loss in determining the treatment for patients with cancer (Hirooka et al, 2009). The conclusion can be made that the doctors have to pay more attention to such symptoms as weight loss. Losing weight can serve as an indicator and can help diagnose the dangerous disease.

Early diagnosis can save the life of the patient who suffers from cancer, thus physicians should pay much attention to this fact. Weight loss also prevents a patient with already diagnosed cancer from the recovering. Therefore, the weight of the patients should be thoroughly controlled and regulated as much as it is possible to help a person defend the disease and provide him/.her with more changes to survive. References Bachmann1 J et al 2009, Pancreatic cancerrelated cachexia: influence on metabolism and correlation to weight loss and pulmonary function, BMC Cancer Royal RE, Wolff RA, Crane CH 2011Cancer of the Pancreas.

In: DeVita VT, Hellman S, Rosenberg SA, eds. Cancer: Principles and Practice of Oncology. 9th ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins; 961?989. Hirooka Y, Itoh A, Kawashima H, et al 2009, A combination therapy of gemcitabine with immunotherapy for patients with inoperable locally advanced pancreatic cancer. Pancreas. Apr;38(3):e69?74.