Introduction

Cancer cachexia (CC) is a multifactorial syndrome that occurs in human cancer patients, and is associated with involuntary weight loss, anorexia, sarcopenia, and increased serum levels of inflammatory cytokines and acute phase proteins (APP). No effective interventional treatments currently exist. Some cats with cancer present with clinical signs similar to humans with CC; however, specific clinical biomarkers in cachectic cats have not been investigated.

Methods

In this study, we aim to characterize abnormalities indicative of CC in cats by comparing body weight, body condition, complete blood count, serum chemistry, and inflammatory cytokine concentrations in cachectic and non-cachectic cats with cancer, and healthy cats. Additionally, we aim to evaluate clinical follow up data to determine prognostic value of measured biomarkers.

Results

Initial analysis reveals mean body weight and BCS were not significantly different, demonstrating the importance of measuring muscle mass in clinical evaluation of CC. Cachectic cats had significantly lower hematocrit and albumin compared to non-cachectic (p<0.0001, p<0.0001) and healthy cats (p<0.0001, p=0.0003). Cancer-bearing cats had significantly higher white blood cell counts compared to healthy cats (p<0.0001). Cachectic cancer-bearing cats had significantly higher serum amyloid A compared to both non-cachectic and healthy cats (p=0.0086, p=0.05). Analysis of alpha1-acid glycoprotein is in progress; we hypothesize cachectic cancer-bearing cats will have elevated alpha1-acid glycoprotein, and cats with elevated APP will have shorter overall survival.

Conclusion

Results thus far indicate the clinical and inflammatory profiles of feline CC is similar to humans, signifying potential for a feline model to further research of CC in human cancer patients.

Funding Information

Mary Lowe Center for Comparative Oncology Seed Grant, University of Pennsylvania, School of Veterinary Medicine