Immunomodulatory agents for the treatment of cachexia.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: In patients with advanced cancer, AIDS and end-stage organ diseases, symptoms of cachexia syndrome include decrease in appetite, weight loss, decreased performance status, and an increase in the systemic inflammatory response. Inflammatory cytokines and other immune interactions affect the lean tissue mass and body fat. It is hopeful that modulation of these inflammatory interactions may contribute to the delay in the development and treatment of cachexia. This review summarizes the current state of the art.

RECENT FINDINGS: This article covers the role of inflammatory response in cachexia, measurement of inflammatory response, mechanism and measurement of cachexia, immunomodulation in cancer, drugs targeting inflammatory cytokines, effect of exercise in cachexia, and treatment of cancer cachexia using immunomodulatory agents.

SUMMARY: Understanding the immune response associated with cachexia may improve future pharmacological modification of the cytokines. In addition, the multifactorial contributions to the mechanisms of cachexia indicate that a multimodal approach may be necessary to treat cachexia and its associated symptoms.