Haslett P A
Laboratory of Cellular Physiology and Immunology, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY 10021, USA.
Semin Oncol. 1998 Apr;25(2 Suppl 6):53-7.
Proinflammatory cytokines such as tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) have a prominent role in the pathogenesis of anorexia and cachexia of chronic disease. Pentoxyfylline and thalidomide are inhibitors of TNF-alpha that have been tried as rational therapeutic interventions in cachexia. Preliminary studies with pentoxyfylline have not shown efficacy in reversing weight loss, despite evidence of TNF-alpha inhibition. In contrast, the administration of thalidomide to patients with human immunodeficiency virus- and/or tuberculosis-associated weight loss has consistently resulted in weight gain. However, the relationship of the metabolic benefits of thalidomide treatment to its complex effects on the immune system is imperfectly understood. Studies of thalidomide, either alone or in combination with other therapies for the treatment of cancer cachexia, are warranted.
促炎细胞因子，如肿瘤坏死因子-α（TNF-α），在慢性疾病的厌食和恶病质发病机制中起重要作用。己酮可可碱和沙利度胺是TNF-α抑制剂，已被尝试作为恶病质的合理治疗干预措施。尽管有证据表明己酮可可碱可抑制TNF-α，但初步研究并未显示其在逆转体重减轻方面有效。相比之下，对患有人类免疫缺陷病毒和/或结核病相关体重减轻的患者给予沙利度胺始终会导致体重增加。然而，沙利度胺治疗的代谢益处与其对免疫系统的复杂影响之间的关系尚未完全了解。有必要对沙利度胺单独或与其他治疗方法联合治疗癌症恶病质进行研究。
