Serum IL-6 Can Be a Sentinel Biomarker for Sarcopenia and Cancer Cachexia

Abstract

Approximately 50%-80%of cancer patients have been reported to result in a devasting syndrome such as cancer cachexia (CC) and at least 20% patients reach the death [1]. Sarcopenia accompanying with muscle loss shows the most clinically relevant phenotypic feature of CC, such as asthenia, fatigue, impaired physiologic function, reduced tolerance to treatments, resulting in impaired quality of life and shorter survival. Such wasting syndromes as sarcopenia are shown in 20%-70% cases depending on the tumor type. Accordingly, reversion of CC and sarcopenia is of most importance and interest. In addition, high serum IL-6 has been reported to result in cancer metastases, invasion and resulting in CC [2,3]. Early detection of such sarcopenia syndromes is clinically most important. If sarcopenia can be precedently predicted, better treatment strategies will be possible. It is well-known that sarcopenia is accompanied by increased levels of inflammation factors TNF-alpha and IL-6 [4]. It has been reported that activation of the IL-6/STAT3 pathway also plays a causative role in the pathogenesis of cancer cachexia, one of the most distressing complications associated with the development of ovarian cancer [5]. Indeed, cachexia usually accompanies the development of ascites and chemoresistance in the most advanced stages of the disease [6]. The majority of advanced gynecologic cancer (GC) patients develop cachexia, which is a major contributor of morbidity and mortality in these patients. Cachexia is primarily responsible for body and muscle weight loss and correlates with tumor burden, increased proinflammatory cytokine levels, fatigue, and reduced response to chemotherapy and radio-therapy [7]. Patients presenting with advanced stage GC often show large tumor and ascites burden that, in turn, results into severe malnourishment because of decreased oral intake and compromised bowel functions. Despite its significant negative impact on quality of life, no effective treatment is currently available for GC-related cachexia. Indeed, muscle loss and low skeletal muscle attenuation are often detected in women undergoing primary debulking surgery for the treatment of GCs. Along the same line, recent evidence suggests that baseline sarcopenia represents one of the most accurate prognostic factors for survival in advanced GC and during chemotherapy treatment [8]. Clinically, we find out that elevation of serum IL-6 in patients with gynecologic cancers is varied by effect of the adjuvant chemotherapy.