Liver export protein synthetic rates are increased by oral meal feeding inweight-losing cancer patients

We have demonstrated previously that, in the fasting state, whereas albumin synthesis is similar in cachectic cancer patients compared with controls, fibrinogen synthesis is increased. Whether synthesis of these proteins is a ltered after an oral meal was examined in eight weight-losing pancreatic ca ncer patients and six healthy controls by use of an intravenous flooding do se of [H-2(5)]- or [H-2(8)]phenylalanine. Cancer patients had a median weig ht loss of 19%, a significantly lower serum albumin concentration, and a si gnificantly higher plasma fibrinogen concentration than controls (P< 0.005) . Fasting albumin synthesis rates were similar between cancer patients and controls (median total synthesis rate 11.3 vs. 13.9 g/day, respectively) an d rose on feeding by a similar degree (median 29 and 24%). The fasting fibr inogen total synthetic rate was significantly higher in cancer patients tha n in controls (median 3.3 vs. 1.0 g/day, P = 0.0019). In cancer patients in the fed state, fibrinogen synthetic rate rose by a median of 38% (P = 0.01 2), whereas in controls there was no significant change. These findings dem onstrate significant upregulation by feeding of acute-phase protein synthes is in cachectic cancer patients.