Figure 6.

Muscle expression of acute phase reactants (APR) is increased in cancer patients and is inversely correlated with muscle index and muscle density. (A) HP, SerpinA3, C3, and SAA1 mRNA relative levels in quadriceps biopsies of healthy subjects (CT), non-cachectic (CNC), and cachectic (CC) cancer patients. (B) Heatmap showing the Pearson correlation coefficients between muscular expression of four selected acute phase reactants in CNC and CC patients (n = 35) and, respectively, weight loss (%), skeletal muscle index (cm²/m²), skeletal muscle density (HU), muscle strength corrected with values for the 50th percentile (kg/kg) and circulating levels of IL-6, CRP, and albumin. Circulating HP concentrations are increased in CC patients and are predictive of poor survival. (C) Circulating levels (g/L) of HP in CT subjects, CNC and CC patients. Data are reported as median ± 95% confidence interval (CT, n =  8; CNC, n = 19; CC, n = 15). (D) Kaplan–Meier survival curves according to plasma haptoglobin levels (two groups determined with normal values range of haptoglobin: 2 mg/mL) for lung cancer patients (n = 57). Significance was determined by logrank test. * p < 0.05, ** p < 0.01, and *** p < 0.001.