Chemotherapy-induced cachexia and model-informed dosing to preserve lean mass in cancer treatment

PLoS Comput Biol. 2022 Mar 21;18(3):e1009505. doi: 10.1371/journal.pcbi.1009505. eCollection 2022 Mar.

Abstract

Although chemotherapy is a standard treatment for cancer, it comes with significant side effects. In particular, certain agents can induce severe muscle loss, known as cachexia, worsening patient quality of life and treatment outcomes. 5-fluorouracil, an anti-cancer agent used to treat several cancers, has been shown to cause muscle loss. Experimental data indicates a non-linear dose-dependence for muscle loss in mice treated with daily or week-day schedules. We present a mathematical model of chemotherapy-induced muscle wasting that captures this non-linear dose-dependence. Area-under-the-curve metrics are proposed to quantify the treatment's effects on lean mass and tumour control. Model simulations are used to explore alternate dosing schedules, aging effects, and morphine use in chemotherapy treatment with the aim of better protecting lean mass while actively targeting the tumour, ultimately leading to improved personalization of treatment planning and improved patient quality of life.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antineoplastic Agents* / pharmacology
  • Cachexia / chemically induced
  • Cachexia / drug therapy
  • Humans
  • Mice
  • Muscle, Skeletal / pathology
  • Neoplasms* / drug therapy
  • Neoplasms* / pathology
  • Quality of Life
  • Treatment Outcome

Substances

  • Antineoplastic Agents

Grants and funding

This research was supported in part by an award from the Fields Institute for Research in Mathematical Sciences (http://www.fields.utoronto.ca/) (MAL), by an award from the Ryerson University Faculty of Science Dean’s Research Fund (https://www.ryerson.ca/science/research/funding-support/) (SFS and MAL), by an award from the Ryerson University Department of Mathematics (https://www.ryerson.ca/math/) (SFS and MAL), and by a grant from the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC) (https://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/) Discovery Grant program (KPW, RGPIN-2018-04205). The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.