Resistance Exercise to Mitigate Cancer Cachexia: Molecular Mechanisms and Practical Applications ()
ABSTRACT
Background: Fifty-eighty percent of all cancer patients are afflicted by cancer cachexia
and 20 percent die due to cancer cachexia. Purpose: From this narrative review, I will make a case for utilizing resistance
exercise training from a molecular mechanistic standpoint and provide insight
in how it can be used in a hospital setting. Method: PubMed Search and
review of the literature. Discussion: The loss of about 9 percent of
lean body mass is related to lower survival
in metastatic colorectal cancer. Chemotherapy is also related to muscle
mass loss. Resistance exercise training increases muscle protein synthesis and
net muscle protein balance towards anabolism in healthy volunteers. Resistance
exercise has shown to reduce the secretion of proinflammatory cytokines from monocytes
and reduce toll-like receptor-4 expression on monocytes. Resistance exercise
training has been shown to reduce lean body mass losses and improve function in
cancer patients. Conclusion: All in all, resistance exercise training
has been shown to alter molecular mechanisms that lead to muscle protein gains
and is an effective means to improve function and reduce lean body mass losses
in cancer with few side effects.
Share and Cite:
Lambert, C. (2022) Resistance Exercise to Mitigate Cancer Cachexia: Molecular Mechanisms and Practical Applications.
Journal of Cancer Therapy,
13, 497-506. doi:
10.4236/jct.2022.138044.