The Impact of Inflammation Control and Active Cancer Palliation on Metabolic Pathways Determining Tumor Progression and Patient Survival

Strong associations are assumed between inflammation, cancer initiation, and tumor progression. Weight loss and cachexia predispose for early death in cancer disease. Usually, such cachexia conditions are characterized by systemic inflammation, which is easily monitored by increased blood levels of C-reactive protein and an elevated erythrocyte sedimentation rate. Hypothetically, eicosanoids or, more specifically, prostaglandins could be common mediators in the promotion of cancer cachexia and the fatigue syndrome. Consequently, prostaglandins, particularly prostaglandin E2, have been reported to involve the development of anorexia, altered resting energy expenditure, tumor neoangiogenesis, elevated whole-body fat and cell metabolism, as well as blood and circulatory homeostasis in progressive cancer disease.