Cancer cachexia is characterized by loss of both skeletal muscle and what other tissue mass?

Cancer cachexia is characterized by loss of both skeletal muscle and what other tissue mass?

• A. Fat mass
• B. Bone mass
• C. Cartilage mass
• D. Skin mass

Answer: (A)

Cancer cachexia is a wasting syndrome driven by cancer that causes loss of skeletal muscle mass along with loss of fat stores. The depletion of adipose tissue accompanies the muscle wasting due to systemic inflammation and metabolic changes that increase energy expenditure and protein and lipid breakdown. Among the options, fat mass best fits because the hallmark co-occuring tissue loss with skeletal muscle in cachexia is adipose tissue. Bone, cartilage, and skin losses are not defining features of cachexia.

Cancer cachexia is a wasting syndrome driven by cancer that causes loss of skeletal muscle mass along with loss of fat stores. The depletion of adipose tissue accompanies the muscle wasting due to systemic inflammation and metabolic changes that increase energy expenditure and protein and lipid breakdown. Among the options, fat mass best fits because the hallmark co-occuring tissue loss with skeletal muscle in cachexia is adipose tissue. Bone, cartilage, and skin losses are not defining features of cachexia.