Cause of Eating Disorders in Cancer Patients Identified... "Developing Treatments Will Aid Cancer Recovery"

Korean researchers including Dr. Kwon's team at Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology publish paper in the June 9 issue of Nature Cell Biology

Pathogenesis model of eating disorders caused by cancer occurrence. Photo by Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Bong-su] Domestic researchers have attracted attention by identifying the cause of eating disorders observed in cancer patients. They discovered a mechanism in which a specific protein (Dilp8/INSL3 peptide) secreted specifically by cancer cells regulates appetite-controlling hormones through a specific receptor (Lgr) in brain neurons. If this leads to the development of therapeutic agents in the future, it is expected to significantly improve eating disorders in cancer patients and enhance the effectiveness of anticancer treatments.

On the 18th, the Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology announced that Dr. Yoo Kwon’s research team at the Disease Target Structure Research Center and Dr. Lee Kyuseon’s research team at the Bio-Nano Research Center, in collaboration with Professor Seo Jaemyung’s team at the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) and Professor Kim Songcheol’s team at Seoul Asan Medical Center, published a paper containing these research results in the online edition of the international journal Nature Cell Biology on the 9th.

As cancer progresses, tumor tissues and cancer cells secrete various tumorkines and cytokines that induce inflammation, impairing the function of normal tissues, causing complications, and reducing survival rates. In particular, cancer cachexia-anorexia syndrome, a representative complication in cancer patients, causes severe eating disorders and continuous weight loss, adversely affecting cancer patient survival and anticancer treatment, but its cause has been unknown.

The research team confirmed through a Drosophila cancer model and RNA transcriptome analysis that the expression and secretion of a specific protein (Dilp8 peptide) derived from cancer cells were significantly increased. They also discovered that this induces eating disorders in the Drosophila cancer model by altering the expression of neuropeptide hormones involved in appetite regulation through the receptor (Lgr3) in brain neurons.

Based on these research results, Professor Seo Jaemyung’s team confirmed that in rats, the specific protein (Dilp8 peptide) and its homolog INSL3 are significantly increased, causing eating disorders. In particular, when the protein (INSL3) secreted by cancer cells was directly injected into the rat brain, food intake and body weight decreased.

Professor Kim Songcheol’s team conducted a clinical correlation study targeting pancreatic cancer patients, who have the highest incidence of cachexia, and confirmed that the concentration of the protein (INSL3) was high in pancreatic cancer patients exhibiting eating disorders.

In other words, the protein (INSL3) secreted by cancer cells acts on neurons involved in appetite regulation in the brain nervous system, reducing appetite in cancer patients. This clarifies that the cancer-secreted protein (INSL3) acts as an important signaling factor inducing eating disorders in cancer patients.

Dr. Yoo Kwon, the principal investigator, said, “This exemplary study confirmed the basic and fundamental research results found in the Drosophila experimental model in mammals such as rats and reconfirmed them in clinical studies of cancer patients.” He added, “If a therapeutic strategy can be developed to diagnose and regulate the newly identified protein (INSL3) to resolve eating disorders in cancer patients, it will not only serve as an effective adjuvant for anticancer treatment but also aid in developing treatments for metabolic diseases in the general population.”

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.