A2 Review article, Literature review, Systematic review
Targeting the Activin Receptor Signaling to Counteract the Multi-Systemic Complications of Cancer and Its Treatments (2021)

Hulmi, J. J., Nissinen, T. A., Penna, F., & Bonetto, A. (2021). Targeting the Activin Receptor Signaling to Counteract the Multi-Systemic Complications of Cancer and Its Treatments. Cells, 10(3), Article 516. https://doi.org/10.3390/cells10030516

JYU authors or editors

Publication details

All authors or editors: Hulmi, Juha J.; Nissinen, Tuuli A.; Penna, Fabio; Bonetto, Andrea

Journal or series: Cells

eISSN: 2073-4409

Publication year: 2021

Volume: 10

Issue number: 3

Article number: 516

Publisher: MDPI

Publication country: Switzerland

Publication language: English

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/cells10030516

Publication open access: Openly available

Publication channel open access: Open Access channel

Publication is parallel published (JYX): https://jyx.jyu.fi/handle/123456789/74634

Abstract

Muscle wasting, i.e., cachexia, frequently occurs in cancer and associates with poor prognosis and increased morbidity and mortality. Anticancer treatments have also been shown to contribute to sustainment or exacerbation of cachexia, thus affecting quality of life and overall survival in cancer patients. Pre-clinical studies have shown that blocking activin receptor type 2 (ACVR2) or its ligands and their downstream signaling can preserve muscle mass in rodents bearing experimental cancers, as well as in chemotherapy-treated animals. In tumor-bearing mice, the prevention of skeletal and respiratory muscle wasting was also associated with improved survival. However, the definitive proof that improved survival directly results from muscle preservation following blockade of ACVR2 signaling is still lacking, especially considering that concurrent beneficial effects in organs other than skeletal muscle have also been described in the presence of cancer or following chemotherapy treatments paired with counteraction of ACVR2 signaling. Hence, here, we aim to provide an up-to-date literature review on the multifaceted anti-cachectic effects of ACVR2 blockade in preclinical models of cancer, as well as in combination with anticancer treatments.

Keywords: muscular atrophies; cancer treatments; survival; cell signaling; proteins

Free keywords: cancer cachexia; tumor; chemotherapy; myostatin; activins; muscle wasting; survival; mortality; multi-organ

Contributing organizations

Related projects

Ministry reporting: Yes

VIRTA submission year: 2021

JUFO rating: 1