Experimental study of influence of thalidomide on cancer cachexia mice

Objective:To observe the effect of thalidomide on cancer cachexia and to study the mechanism with an animal cancer cachectic model. Methods: BALB/c mice were used to establish murine cancer cachexia model.The serum TNF-α,IL-6,glucose,total protein and cholesterol levels and food consumption,body weight,left gastrochemius weight of the mice in different stages were measured.Results: Compared with the normal group,the cancer cachexia groups showed lower body weight and food consumption.After treatment with thalidomide,the mice of different thalidomide intervention groups down-regulated the levels of TNF-α,IL-6 and prolonged the survival time and improved the parameters of body weight,food consumption,left gastrochemius weight,glucose and total protein compared with that of the saline group.Conclusion: Thalidomide may potentially moderate cancer cachexia state,adjust metabolic disorder and prolong the survival time through down-regulating the serum levels of TNF-α,IL-6.