According to a new study from the researchers in Brazil and the United States, simple physical tests like sitting down, standing up and walking can significantly aid physicians in managing treatments for Metastatic lung cancer. The study was led by researchers at the University of São Paulo’s Medical School (FM-USP) in Brazil and Harvard Medical School, with funding from São Paulo Research Foundation (FAPESP). The article on the study is published in the European Journal of Clinical Investigation.
Willian das Neves Silva, the first author of the article said that cachexia anorexia syndrome is characterized by loss of skeletal muscle mass due to consumption of muscular and fatty tissue. This is the common feature of advanced stage cancer and is also associated with fatigue, loss of appetite and muscle weakness.
In lung cancer patients and specifically among non-small cell lung cancer patients, measuring muscle mass is not sufficient for prognostic purposes. The muscle function should also be taken into consideration.
The findings of the study also included identification in the blood plasma of two substances – serine and M22G. It has the potential to become biomarkers capable of indicating the patients who are most likely to respond to major treatment called chemotherapy.
The findings of the study can help oncologists manage chemotherapy in a more effective way. The next step is to reanalyze all data for patients with the help of artificial intelligence in search of biomarkers. This can help in investigating whether physical exercise during chemotherapy could improve the overall health of non-small cell lung cancer patients.
The information shared in this blog is for educational purposes only. You should always consult with your healthcare provider for any medical needs.
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