Abstract
Malnutrition of cancer patients is a significant cause of mortality and morbidity. The contributory factors in cancers anatomically involving the gastrointestinal tract are self-evident. However, how non-gastrointestinal malignancies affect gastrointestinal structure and function is not clear. The aim of this paper is to review the relationship between non-gastrointestinal malignancies and malabsorption, which leads to malnutrition, weight loss and increased mortality. In non-gastrointestinal cancer patients, intestinal morphological atrophy occurs, whereas in the jejunum absorption is impaired. Cytokines including IL-1 and TNF-alpha primarily induce delayed gastric emptying and also act directly on intestinal mucosa to induce malabsorption. These cytokines also directly act on several gastrointestinal hormones including cholecystokinin, neuropeptides including corticotropin-releasing factor, and via the vagus to decrease gastrointestinal motility. The combination of small intestine atrophy and delayed gastrointestinal motility are some of the reasons for malabsorption in cancer patients with non-gastrointestinal malignancies that contribute to the catabolic process.
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