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New Treatment For Weight Loss And Muscle Wasting In Cancer Patients
“Free radicals occur naturally in the body and are not harmful in low levels. Under normal circumstances free radicals are kept under control by antioxidants,” explained Ms Vanessa Vaughan, a PhD student working on the project.
“However in cachexia the balance is tipped, with free radicals causing serious damage to DNA and body proteins. Protein production is significantly decreased and breakdown is dramatically increased. Muscle wasting is the inevitable outcome.
“We will be testing two existing therapies in combination to evaluate their effectiveness in stabilising the free radicals and preventing muscle breakdown.
“The first is oxypurinol, which is closely related to a drug used for over 50 years to treat gout. Oxypurinol suppresses a free radical producing enzyme believed to be overactive in patients with cachexia. The second is an omega 3 fatty acid called eicosapentenoic acid (EPA), which reduces free radical production.”
The project recently received a funding boost from the Victorian Government, with Ms Vaughan awarded a Victorian Cancer Agency Palliative and Supportive Care in Cancer scholarship through the Victorian Cancer Agency.
“This funding support means that I can fulfill my passion to work in the field of cancer research,” Ms Vaughan said.
“Cancer cachexia is a devastating, under-researched condition. I am pleased to be able to work on a project that could have direct, positive outcomes for cancer patients.”
As well as Dr Lewandowski and Ms Vaughan, the project team includes Deakin PhD student Eddie Hinch, Deakin postdoctoral fellow Melanie Sullivan-Gunn, and Barwon Health’s Regional Director of Palliative Care, Associate Professor Peter Martin.
Source-Medindia
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