Background & aims: Cancer cachexia affects intermediary metabolism with intense and general catabolism. Walker 256 tumor is a model injected either subcutaneously (Sc) or intraperitoneally (Ip), with different metabolic features. Beta-hydroxy beta-methylbutyrate (HMbeta) is a leucine metabolite with anti-catabolic properties, the aim of this study being to investigate its effects on metabolic parameters in both tumor models.
Methods: Controls (subcutaneous control group (ScC) and intraperitoneal control group (IpC)) and supplemented animals (subcutaneous supplemented group (ScS) and intraperitoneal supplemented group (IpS)) showed these results.
Results: Protein Sc values were (47.8%) lower than Ip groups. Sc group fat content was (65.16%) higher than Ip groups. Liver glycogen value for Sc groups was (38.4%) higher than Ip groups. Muscle glycogen value for Sc groups were (2.75 times) higher than Ip groups. Corticosterone and insulin values were lower (44.53%) and higher (45.94%), respectively, in Sc when compared with Ip groups. Glucose and lactate values for ScS were the lowest (61.7% and 41.53%) compared to other groups. ScC glutamine value was the highest (40.8%) of all groups. Glutamate Sc values were (42.65%) lower than Ip groups. Sc groups showed greater survival time compared with Ip groups. ScS group showed 100% increase in survival time when compared with ScC.
Conclusions: HMbeta supplementation can increase survival time and promotes metabolic changes in cancer-bearing animals, but it seems to work in a time-dependent manner.