Prevention of liver cancer cachexia-induced cardiac wasting and heart failure

Stefan D. Anker
,
Jochen Springer
,
Anika Tschirner
,
Arash Haghikia
,
Stephan von Haehling
,
Hind Lal

University of Bedfordshire
,
University of East Anglia
,
Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin
,
Hannover Medical School
,
Temple University
,
Immundiagnostik AG

Research Output: Contribution to journal Article Peer-review

Sustainable Development Goals

SDG 3 Good Health and Well

Abstract

Aims Symptoms of cancer cachexia (CC) include fatigue, shortness of breath, and impaired exercise capacity, which are also hallmark symptoms of heart failure (HF). Herein, we evaluate the effects of drugs commonly used to treat HF (bisoprolol, imidapril, spironolactone) on development of cardiac wasting, HF, and death in the rat hepatoma CC model (AH-130). Methods and results Tumour-bearing rats showed a progressive loss of body weight and left-ventricular (LV) mass that was associated with a progressive deterioration in cardiac function. Strikingly, bisoprolol and spironolactone significantly reduced wasting of LV mass, attenuated cardiac dysfunction, and improved survival. In contrast, imidapril had no beneficial effect. Several key anabolic and catabolic pathways were dysregulated in the cachectic hearts and, in addition, we found enhanced fibrosis that was corrected by treatment with spironolactone. Finally, we found cardiac wasting and fibrotic remodelling in patients who died as a result of CC. In living cancer patients, with and without cachexia, serum levels of brain natriuretic peptide and aldosterone were elevated. Conclusion Systemic effects of tumours lead not only to CC but also to cardiac wasting, associated with LV-dysfunction, fibrotic remodelling, and increased mortality. These adverse effects of the tumour on the heart and on survival can be mitigated by treatment with either the β-blocker bisoprolol or the aldosterone antagonist spironolactone. We suggest that clinical trials employing these agents be considered to attempt to limit this devastating complication of cancer.

Publication Information

Output type

Research Output: Contribution to journal Article Peer-review

Original language

English

Pages from-to (Number of pages)

Pages 932-941

Journal (Volume, Issue Number)

European Heart Journal (Volume 35, Issue 14)

Publication milestones

Published - 29/08/2013

Publication status

Published - 29/08/2013

ISSN

0195-668X

External Publication IDs

handle.net: 10547/593456
Scopus: 84889079190

Access to documents

10.1093/eurheartj/eht302

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