Skeletal muscle wasting and myogenic stem cells in cancer

• Author / Creator

  Esfandiari, Nina

• The purpose of this work is to understand properties of skeletal muscle of cancer patients experiencing severe muscle depletion. These studies were done using computed tomography (CT) imaging and patient information (demographics), and collection of muscle biopsies to analyze using flow cytometry, histology, and immunohistochemistry. In study 1, CT data was used to provide an explanatory analysis for radiation attenuation of muscles of cancer patients, a characteristic associated with muscle triglyceride content. Multivariate linear regression analysis revealed that lower muscle radiation attenuation is associated with older age, increased adipose mass, reduced muscle mass and advanced disease. In study 2, CT data and muscle biopsies were used to provide an exploratory examination of muscle morphology and cell composition. Results support the presence of muscle atrophy and a pathological infiltration of fat within muscle. These results will guide future investigations of muscle cell biology and pathology in cancer patients.

• Subjects / Keywords

  • Skeletal muscles
  • Cachexia
  • Radiation attenuation

• Graduation date

  Fall 2014

• Type of Item

  Thesis

• Degree

  Master of Science

• DOI

  https://doi.org/10.7939/R3WH2DM97

• License

  This thesis is made available by the University of Alberta Libraries with permission of the copyright owner solely for non-commercial purposes. This thesis, or any portion thereof, may not otherwise be copied or reproduced without the written consent of the copyright owner, except to the extent permitted by Canadian copyright law.