Why life-threatening emaciation occurs – healing practice

Cancer: Reason for life-threatening weight loss clarified

Cancer is often associated with unwanted weight loss. This breakdown of fat and muscle mass, the so-called “tumor cachexia”, can be life-threatening for those affected. Researchers have now clarified why the extreme emaciation occurs.

According to experts, eight out of ten cancer patients also suffer from life-threatening emaciation. A fifth even die from it. Researchers at the University of Graz have now found out why so-called cachexia occurs in cancer.

Faulty communication between cells

“The culprit is faulty communication between different cell types. Among them are immune cells that try to fight cancer,” explains Martina Schweiger from the Institute for Molecular Biosciences at the University of Graz in a recent publication Message.

In the case of cachexia patients, however, “they ensure that the body loses too much fat or muscle mass. As a result, cancer therapy is no longer sustainable,” says the researcher.

The results of the international research team were published in the renowned scientific journal “PNAS” released.

Tumor hides from the scavenger cells

In many cases, an inexplicable, extreme weight loss indicates cancer. If you then look at the inflammation values ​​in the blood or tissues, it is clear: the whole body is on the alert.

Because tumors of cachexia sufferers send inflammatory factors into the blood, which activate the immune cells. The scavenger cells in the human immune system recognize the threat and therefore send out the command to break down fat so that the body can use the energy stored in it to defend itself.

The fat mass is broken down, but the cancer is not fought because the tumor cleverly hides from the scavenger cells.

“So the efforts are wasted in vain. The scavenger, fat and nerve cells give each other the command to break down. Meanwhile, the tumor grows undisturbed. The body becomes weaker and weaker, and therapies ultimately have to be stopped,” says Schweiger.

Cancer tricks the immune system

The work of the scientists allows completely new insights into these processes. Until now, it was assumed that the tumor itself gave the signal for fat reduction.

“But it is now clear that different cell types communicate past each other while the cancer trickes the immune system. Our goal now is to find a way to break this vicious circle,” says the researcher. (ad)