Compared with prolonged fasting, cancer cachexia in children is characterized by which of the following?

Compared with prolonged fasting, cancer cachexia in children is characterized by which of the following?

• A. Increased appetite
• B. Advanced wasting with depletion of skeletal muscle and adipose tissue and loss of protein conservation in cancer
• C. Similar energy conservation mechanisms are preserved
• D. Decreased energy expenditure is preserved in cancer cachexia

Answer: (B)

Cancer cachexia in children is driven by tumor- and inflammation-driven catabolism that leads to loss of both lean body mass and fat, with a breakdown of normal protein-sparing mechanisms. In this state, the body continues to lose protein and energy stores despite intake, reflecting ongoing proteolysis and impaired protein synthesis. This contrasts with prolonged fasting, where the body adapts to conserve protein and often reduces energy expenditure to preserve lean tissue. Therefore, the hallmark is advanced wasting with depletion of skeletal muscle and adipose tissue and loss of protein conservation in cancer. Increased appetite would not fit this pattern, and energy conservation mechanisms are not preserved in cachexia; energy expenditure is not typically decreased and may be increased.

Cancer cachexia in children is driven by tumor- and inflammation-driven catabolism that leads to loss of both lean body mass and fat, with a breakdown of normal protein-sparing mechanisms. In this state, the body continues to lose protein and energy stores despite intake, reflecting ongoing proteolysis and impaired protein synthesis. This contrasts with prolonged fasting, where the body adapts to conserve protein and often reduces energy expenditure to preserve lean tissue. Therefore, the hallmark is advanced wasting with depletion of skeletal muscle and adipose tissue and loss of protein conservation in cancer.

Increased appetite would not fit this pattern, and energy conservation mechanisms are not preserved in cachexia; energy expenditure is not typically decreased and may be increased.