This Article Full Text (PDF) References Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Add to Saved Citations Download to citation manager Request Permissions Request Reprints Add to My Marked Citations Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Al-Majid, S. Articles by McCarthy, D. O. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Al-Majid, S. Articles by McCarthy, D. O. Social Bookmarking                   What's this?

Cancer-Induced Fatigue and Skeletal Muscle Wasting: The Role of Exercise

School of Nursing, Virginia Commonwealth University, 1220 E. Broad Street, P.O. Box 980567, Richmond, VA 23298-0567; phone: (804) 828-3447; fax: (804) 828-7743salmaji{at}hsc.vcu.edu

Donna O. McCarthy, PhD

School of Nursing at the University of Wisconsin–Madison.

Fatigue is the most frequently reported symptom by cancer patients. Many of these patients perceive fatigue as the most distressing symptom associated with their illness because it imposes limitations on their physical activity level. Skeletal muscle wasting, which occurs as part of cancer cachexia, is one of the mechanisms that contribute to fatigue. Cancerinduced skeletal muscle wasting may occur despite normal food intake and is not prevented by nutritional supplementation. Evidence suggests that endurance exercise ameliorates cancer-related fatigue. There is no compelling evidence to support that exerciseinduced reduction in fatigue is related to preservation of muscle mass. Resistance exercise attenuates muscle wasting associated with a variety of catabolic conditions. However, its effects on cancer-induced muscle wasting have not been adequately studied. This article describes the physiological mechanisms implicated in the induction of cancer-related muscle wasting, summarizes findings from endurance and resistance exercise studies in relation to fatigue and muscle wasting during cancer and selected clinical conditions, and proposes directions for future research.

Key Words: Fatigue • skeletal muscle wasting • cytokines • tumor necrosis factor-• • ubiquitin • physical activity • endurance exercise • resistance • exercise

CiteULike    Connotea    Del.icio.us    Digg    Reddit    Technorati    What's this?

This article has been cited by other articles:

				K. A. Baltgalvis, F. G. Berger, M. M. O. Pena, J. M. Davis, S. J. Muga, and J. A. Carson Interleukin-6 and cachexia in ApcMin/+ mice Am J Physiol Regulatory Integrative Comp Physiol, February 1, 2008; 294(2): R393 - R401. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				C. Visovsky Muscle strength, body composition, and physical activity in women receiving chemotherapy for breast cancer. Integr Cancer Ther, September 1, 2006; 5(3): 183 - 191. [Abstract] [PDF]

				E. van Weert, J. Hoekstra-Weebers, R. Otter, K. Postema, R. Sanderman, and C. van der Schans Cancer-related fatigue: predictors and effects of rehabilitation. Oncologist, February 1, 2006; 11(2): 184 - 196. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				J. A. Roscoe, S. E. Matteson, K. M. Mustian, D. Padmanaban, and G. R. Morrow Treatment of Radiotherapy-Induced Fatigue Through a Nonpharmacological Approach Integr Cancer Ther, March 1, 2005; 4(1): 8 - 13. [Abstract] [PDF]

				K. S. Nair, A. Jaleel, Y. W. Asmann, K. R. Short, and S. Raghavakaimal Proteomic research: potential opportunities for clinical and physiological investigators Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab, June 1, 2004; 286(6): E863 - E874. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]