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©2014 Baishideng Publishing Group Inc. All rights reserved.
World J Gastroenterol. Jul 28, 2014; 20(28): 9361-9373
Published online Jul 28, 2014. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v20.i28.9361
Published online Jul 28, 2014. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v20.i28.9361
Cachexia and pancreatic cancer: Are there treatment options?
Tara C Mueller, Jeannine Bachmann, Marc E Martignoni, Department of Surgery, University Hospital Rechts der Isar, Technical University of Munich, 81675 Munich, Germany
Marc A Burmeister, Braun Melsungen AG/Department of Anesthesiology, University Hospital Hamburg Eppendorf, 20246 Hamburg, Germany
Author contributions: Mueller TC and Burmeister MA contributed equally to this work; They performed the literature search and wrote the manuscript; Trial results and their clinical relevance were discussed with Martignoni ME and Bachmann J; Furthermore, Martignoni ME and Bachmann J revised and edited the manuscript; all authors were involved in conception and design of the manuscript.
Correspondence to: Marc E Martignoni, Professor, Department of Surgery, University Hospital Rechts der Isar, Technichal University of Munich, Ismaninger Strasse 22, 81675 Munich, Germany. martignoni@tum.de
Telephone: +49-89-41405093 Fax: +49-89-41404870
Received: October 29, 2013
Revised: January 14, 2014
Accepted: February 16, 2014
Published online: July 28, 2014
Revised: January 14, 2014
Accepted: February 16, 2014
Published online: July 28, 2014
Core Tip
Core tip: Cachexia in pancreatic cancer is frequently described and reduces survival and quality of life of the concerned patients. Despite intense pre-clinical and clinical research activities, there are still no pharmaceutical agents with proven effectiveness in the long term. Furthermore, it is evident that only multimodal concepts can improve patients’ outcome. Therefore, the current pharmacological and nutritional therapy options are reviewed and a stepwise and pragmatic approach will be presented to facilitate and standardize the treatment of cachexia in pancreatic cancer patients. This strategy combines nutritional, dietary, pharmacological and as well physical and psychological methods.