Musculoskeletal Complications of Cancer and its Treatments

Cancer frequently associates with the occurrence of cachexia, a debilitating syndrome responsible for reduced tolerance to anticancer therapies, as well as increased morbidity and mortality. Dr. Bonetto’s group reported that animals bearing cancers not only show reduced skeletal muscle mass and strength, but also dramatic bone loss, despite the absence of bone metastases. Their latest findings revealed that muscle and bone depletion may also occur as a direct consequence of anticancer treatments (i.e., chemotherapy). There is now substantial agreement on the fact that abnormalities of the so-called ‘muscle-bone crosstalk’ may contribute to the onset of cachexia secondary to cancer or chemotherapy. Clinical and experimental observations also suggest that pharmacological bone preservation may concurrently benefit muscle mass in animal models, burn patients and osteoporotic women.

In this webinar Dr. Bonetto presents evidence that bone preservation directly impacts muscle size and function in cachexia, thus also contributing to unraveling novel pathogenetic mechanisms and opening new avenues for treatment.

Speaker

Andrea Bonetto, PhD

Professor of Surgery
Indiana University