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Cancer treatment may also cause weight loss

11/17/11

Strategies that are employed in drug therapies to treat cancer patients have been found to also possibly cause rapid weight loss.

Recent research conducted on three species of primates indicated a drug usually used to treat cancer patients also kills fat cells and improves metabolic function.

"We will see how this works in humans," Chris Anzalone, chief executive of Arrowhead Research Corporation, said to the Los Angeles Times. "My sense is this will never be intended for long-term use. Sometime after the drug, we believe that lifestyle changes will have to take over."

The recent study described results from injecting primates with the synthetic drug adipotide, which led to the animals eating less, shedding belly fat and showing changes in metabolic function.

After four weeks of daily injections of adipotide and a four-week follow-up with no treatment, 10 of the animals lost an average of 11 percent body weight and 39 percent of fat deposits, which all happened three weeks after the drug was discontinued.

The downside to the drug was the primates showed signs of dehydration and a drop in phosphorous and potassium levels. Some developed small kidney lesions.

According to the U.S. National Cancer Institute, there were more than 11 million Americans living with cancer in 2008. While scientists continue to search for a cure - and sometimes make surprising discoveries in the process - Americans are encouraged to invest in life insurance in order to prepare for the future.

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