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. 2017 Aug 17;13(1):46-60.
doi: 10.1177/1559827617725283. eCollection 2019 Jan-Feb.

Understanding the Role of Exercise in Cancer Cachexia Therapy

Justin P Hardee  1   2 , Brittany R Counts  1   2 , James A Carson  1   2
Affiliations

Understanding the Role of Exercise in Cancer Cachexia Therapy

Justin P Hardee et al. Am J Lifestyle Med. .

Abstract

Cachexia, the unintentional loss of body weight, is prevalent in many cancer types, and the associated skeletal muscle mass depletion increases patient morbidity and mortality. While anorexia can be present, cachexia is not reversible with nutritional therapies alone. Pharmacological agents have been proposed to treat this condition, but there are currently no approved treatments. Nonetheless, the hallmark characteristics associated with cancer cachexia remain viable foundations for future therapies. Regular physical activity holds a promising future as a nonpharmacological alternative to improve patient survival through cachexia prevention. Evidence suggests exercise training is beneficial during cancer treatment and survival. However, the mechanistic examination of cachectic skeletal muscle's response to exercise is both needed and justified. The primary objective of this review is to discuss the role of exercise for the prevention and treatment of cancer-associated muscle wasting. Initially, we provide an overview of systemic alterations induced by cancer and their role in the regulation of wasting processes during cachexia progression. We then discuss how exercise could alter disrupted regulatory pathways related to growth and metabolism during cancer-induced muscle atrophy. Last, we outline current exercise prescription guidelines and how exercise could be a potential behavioral therapy to curtail cachexia development in cancer patients.

Keywords: cancer cachexia; exercise; skeletal muscle; systemic alterations.

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Conflict of interest statement

Declaration of Conflicting Interests: The author(s) declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.

Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.
Potential exercise training alterations to the systemic environment during cancer cachexia. Systemic disruptions (eg, inflammation, anemia, hypogonadism) have been identified as therapeutic _targets of cancer cachexia. Resistance and aerobic exercise training can positively influence these characteristics, and therefore may be a potential _target to increase patient survival. Abbreviations: REE, resting energy expenditure; O2, oxygen; BMD, bone mineral density; AR, androgen receptor.
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