Publications by authors named "Stefan Melly"
Mouse models of cancer-induced cachexia: Hind limb muscle mass and evoked force as readouts.
Biochem Biophys Res Commun
September 2018
Article Synopsis
- Advanced cancer patients commonly experience cachexia, a condition that leads to significant muscle loss and affects their treatment response, quality of life, and survival chances.
- There are currently no effective treatments for cachexia, highlighting the urgent need for early detection and monitoring of muscle mass loss to implement timely interventions.
- The study introduces simpler experimental cancer models using mice and human cancer cells, allowing for easier observation of muscle deterioration and evaluation of potential therapies for cachexia.
Article Synopsis
- Metallothioneins are proteins that manage zinc storage and transport but are linked to increased levels during muscle atrophy.
- Blocking metallothioneins 1 and 2 activates the Akt pathway, leading to larger muscle fibers and improved muscle strength.
- The positive impact of metallothionein blockade on muscle mass and function also holds true even with glucocorticoid-induced atrophy, suggesting a potential treatment strategy for muscle wasting conditions.
Article Synopsis
- Cachexia is a common condition in advanced cancer patients that negatively impacts treatment effectiveness, quality of life, and survival, with the role of ActRII inhibition in this context still unclear.
- The study used a mouse model to test the effects of a neutralizing antibody (CDD866) against ActRII, in combination with two anti-cancer drugs, cisplatin and everolimus.
- Results showed that cisplatin worsened weight loss and skeletal muscle degradation, while CDD866 helped protect against muscle loss; everolimus also protected muscle, and combining it with CDD866 suggested potential additional benefits.