ABSTRACT
With progressing cancer, the disturbances in protein metabolism are mainly represented by increased whole-body protein turnover, consequent to increased hepatic synthesis and muscle degradation of protein, and increased gluconeogenesis from amino acids.3,4 In advanced stages, when the cachexia syndrome is present, such metabolic disturbances are probably secondary to the severe protein calorie malnutrition resulting from reduced food intake secondary to anor exia and antineoplastic therapy rather than to the presence of the tumor per se. However, in the early stages when the diagnosis of cancer is made or in the early stages before treatment is started, the changes in protein metabolism are tumor-induced and as such are reflective of and indicators of the effects of the metabolism of the host.
