Distinct iron metabolism regulation during cachexia progression in murine models of intestinal and pancreatic cancer

Background. Cancer cachexia is a multifactorial syndrome characterized by substantial metabolic disturbances including systemic inflammation, and muscle atrophy, which may affect the regulation of iron metabolism in patients.

This study aimed to characterize this regulation in two murine models of colorectal and pancreatic cancer, both associated with a high prevalence of cachexia. Methods. Histological, biochemical and molecular analyses were performed in serum, skeletal muscle, liver, spleen and tumor from UN-KC-6141 pancreatic tumor bearing mice and from ApcMin/+ mice (colorectal cancer model), both models exhibiting variable cachexia severity. Results.

Both models induce cachexia, but diverge markedly in their regulation of iron metabolism. UNKC mice display reduced plasma iron availability (-9.6% transferrin saturation, p