Published in Scientific Works. Series C. Veterinary Medicine, Vol. LXI
Written by Iulia CRÎNGANU, Raluca NEGREANU, Dan CRÎNGANU
Cahexia and immunosuppression in cancer are the most common and complex paraneoplastic syndromes caused by tumor development based on the resources of the cancerous body. It is characterized by a progressive loss in weight due to disorders of carbohydrate metabolism, lipid and hydro protidic disorders associated with endocrine manifestations, especially hematological and blood chemistry or dysproteinemia, severe hypoalbuminemia, hypoglycemia, anemia, lymphopenia and a decreased immune function even when given adequate nutrition. Cahexia of the cancerous organism causes a reduced quality of life, a poor response to treatment and reduced survival. Cancer cells use carbohydrates like blood glucose and tissue glycogen to power their metabolism draining the body of amino acids, due to the "nitrogen hunger". But cancer can not use lipids for energy metabolism, thus diets with a high fat content may slow tumor growth. Nonspecific immunotherapy (immunomodulators) associated with antioxidant nutrients such as vitamins, microelement minerals and some inhibitors of proteases found in various nutritional supplements have significant effects in the prevention, control of the disease and increase the efficiency of anticancer treatment. Dogs and cats with cancer can register the same decline in immune function as humans and therefore can benefit from adaptogens used in human oncology medicine.
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