A new research paper was published in Oncotarget's Volume 14 on July 20, 2023, entitled, “The uncharacterized transcript KIAA0930 confers a cachexic phenotype on cancer cells.”

Patients with cancer cachexia have a poor prognosis and impaired quality of life. Numerous studies using preclinical models have shown that inflammatory cytokines play an important role in the development of cancer cachexia; however, no clinical trial targeting cytokines has been successful. Therefore, it is essential to identify molecular mechanisms to develop anti-cachexia therapies. 

In this new study, researchers Takahiro Yamakawa, Guoxiang Zhang, Liza Bengrine Najjar, Chun Li, and Keiichi Itakura from the Beckman Research Institute of City of Hope identified the uncharacterized transcript KIAA0930 as a candidate cachexic factor based on analyses of microarray datasets and an in vitro muscle atrophy assay. 

“We here report the initial characterization of KIAA0930.”

While conditioned media from pancreatic, colorectal, gastric, and tongue cancer cells caused muscle atrophy in vitro, conditioned medium from KIAA0930 knockdown cells did not. The PANC-1 orthotopic xenograft study showed that the tibialis anterior muscle weight and cross-sectional area were increased in mice bearing KIAA0930 knockdown cells compared to control mice. Interestingly, KIAA0930 knockdown did not cause consistent changes in the secretion of inflammatory cytokines/chemokines from a variety of cancer cell lines. An initial characterization experiment showed that KIAA0930 is localized in the cytosol and not secreted from cells. 

“These data suggest that the action of KIAA0930 is independent of the expression of cytokines/chemokines and that KIAA0930 could be a novel therapeutic target for cachexia.”

Read the full study: DOI: https://doi.org/10.18632/oncotarget.28476 

Correspondence to: Takahiro Yamakawa - tyamakawa@coh.org 

Keywords: KIAA0930, cancer cachexia, muscle atrophy, inflammatory cytokines/chemokines, protein secretion

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Oncotarget

KIAA0930: A Cachexic Phenotype Inducer in Cancer Cells

In this special episode of our podcast, we bring you a recording of a live 'Ask Me Anything (AMA)' event held by our Pancreatic Cancer Programme for World Pancreatic Cancer Day on 16 November 2023. The AMA webinar saw specialists from across different disciplines answering questions submitted by members of the public and discussing topics related to day-by-day living with pancreatic cancer.

In alphabetical order, the AMA panel consisted of:

Dr Bristi Basu, an Academic Consultant in Medical Oncology specialising in experimental cancer therapeutics at the University of Cambridge and Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, and the clinical co-lead of the CRUK Cambridge Centre Pancreatic Cancer Programme.

Yvonne Cartwright, a Consultant in Palliative Medicine at Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.

Dr Paulo Fidalgo, a Gastroenterologist at the Digestive Unit of the Champalimaud Clinical Centre in Portugal, and head of their Risk Assessment and Early Diagnosis Programme.

Kirsty Hoare, a Cancer Support Specialist at Maggie's.

Dr Asif Jah, a Consultant Surgeon in hepato-pancreatico-biliary (HPB) and transplant surgery at Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, and Clinical Lead of the Department of HPB Surgery and Associate Lecturer at the University of Cambridge.

Jeni Jones, a Pancreatic Cancer Specialist Nurse at Pancreatic Cancer UK.

Laura McGeeney, a Pancreatic Cancer Specialist Dietician at Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.

Sally Pascall, a 13-year survivor of pancreatic cancer, and one of our patient representatives who advises the Pancreatic Cancer Programme on issues that are relevant to patients.

Abigail Redman, an HPB Oncology Clinical Nurse Specialist at Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.

Ask me anything about… day-by-day living with pancreatic cancer

Why does eating more not fix the severe weight loss seen in some cancer patients, and what can be done about it?

In this 'Ask Me Anything' episode, Dr Hui-Ling Ou, Programme Manager for the Pancreatic Cancer and Cancer Immunology Programmes at the CRUK Cambridge Centre, speaks with researchers from the Cancer Cachexia Action Network (CANCAN): Dr Claire Connell (University of Cambridge and Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust), Dr David Lewis (CRUK Scotland Institute), and Dr Tobias Janowitz (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory).

Together, they unpack what cancer-associated cachexia is, why it's so devastating for patients, and how scientists are working to understand and reverse this syndrome. The guests share how their research, spanning metabolism, imaging, immunology, and clinical studies, is bringing fresh insights and hope to a problem that affects quality of life for so many.

This thought-provoking discussion shines a light on the collaborative efforts driving progress against one of cancer's most challenging complications.

Ask me anything about cancer

Ask me anything about... the science of cancer-associated cachexia

What do you most want to know about pancreatic cancer and cancer-associated cachexia?

In this special episode, we bring you a recording of a live 'Ask Me Anything (AMA)' event hosted by the CRUK Cambridge Centre Pancreatic Cancer Programme for World Pancreatic Cancer Day 2024.

A multidisciplinary and international panel of experts, including clinicians, researchers, nurses, dietitians and physiotherapists, answer thoughtful questions from the public about pancreatic cancer, cachexia and the latest research and care approaches. Topics range from understanding the biology of these diseases to managing symptoms and improving quality of life.

The discussion sheds light on the progress being made and the ongoing challenges in improving outcomes for people affected by these conditions.

Ask me anything about... cachexia research and management

Oncotarget is a primarily oncology-focused, peer-reviewed, open access journal. Papers are published continuously within yearly volumes in their final and complete form and then quickly released to Pubmed.

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The Cancer Research UK Cambridge Centre unites over 1,000 world-leading biologists, chemists, physicists, engineers, mathematicians, computer scientists, clinicians, nurses and allied healthcare professionals from across Cambridge, UK to tackle cancer from every angle.

Our mission is to end death and disease caused by cancer through research, treatment and education. We are detecting cancer at its earliest stage and are developing personalised treatments for every patient through facilitating new collaborations and driving the translation of new scientific discoveries into clinical applications to improve patient care. By working together across a range of different disciplines, our members are breaking down the barriers between the laboratory and the clinic, enabling patients to benefit from the latest innovations in cancer science.

New tracks tagged #Cachexia