Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41221702›Full record

ArticleJournal of cachexia, sarcopenia and muscle2025

Primary-Stage Colon Cancer Impairs Muscle Energy Metabolism by Suppressing Mitochondrial Complex I Activity.

Xiaolin Li, Miranda van der Ende, Hanneke Moonen, Rogier Plas, Susanne Lotstra, Mieke Poland, Jaap Keijer, Renger F Witkamp, Tjarda van Heek, Sander Grefte and 2 more

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Journal of cachexia, sarcopenia and muscle, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

12 authors.

Xiaolin LiDivision of Human Nutrition and Health, Wageningen University, Wageningen, the Netherlands.ORCID 0000-0001-9570-8631
Miranda van der EndeDivision of Human Nutrition and Health, Wageningen University, Wageningen, the Netherlands.
Hanneke MoonenDivision of Human Nutrition and Health, Wageningen University, Wageningen, the Netherlands.
Rogier PlasDivision of Human Nutrition and Health, Wageningen University, Wageningen, the Netherlands.
Susanne LotstraDivision of Human Nutrition and Health, Wageningen University, Wageningen, the Netherlands.
Mieke PolandDivision of Human Nutrition and Health, Wageningen University, Wageningen, the Netherlands.
Jaap KeijerHuman and Animal Physiology, Wageningen University, Wageningen, the Netherlands.
Renger F WitkampDivision of Human Nutrition and Health, Wageningen University, Wageningen, the Netherlands.
Tjarda van HeekDivision of Human Nutrition and Health, Wageningen University, Wageningen, the Netherlands.
Sander GrefteHuman and Animal Physiology, Wageningen University, Wageningen, the Netherlands.
Klaske van NorrenDivision of Human Nutrition and Health, Wageningen University, Wageningen, the Netherlands.
COMUNEX group

Funding

China Scholarship CouncilTop Institute Food and NutritionVlag Graduate SchoolWageningen University and Research
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundColon cancer (CC), the third most common cancer worldwide, is accompanied by cachexia in 30% of patients. Its associated muscle loss directly impairs therapeutic response and survival. Early intervention is crucial, yet the underlying mechanisms of early-stage muscle dysfunction remain unclear. This study investigates mitochondrial function in skeletal muscle across different CC stages to identify early metabolic alterations.

methodsThe present study investigated mitochondrial function in rectus abdominus muscle biopsies from 30 patients with primary CC (83% male, mean age 67 ± 8 years), 10 patients with colorectal cancer with liver metastases (50% male, mean age 69 ± 6 years), and 17 age-matched controls (65% male, mean age 66 ± 7 years). Mitochondrial oxygen consumption was assessed using high-resolution respirometry, and transcriptional profiles were analysed via RNA sequencing.

resultsPatients with primary CC exhibited reduced complex I activity compared to controls (9.02 vs. 12.47 pmol/s/mg, p < 0.001), accompanied by transcriptional upregulation of oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS)-related genes. In contrast, patients with liver metastases showed more severe mitochondrial dysfunction, with reductions in both complex I (7.38 vs. 9.65 pmol/s/mg, p < 0.01) and complex II (8.36 vs. 19.73 pmol/s/mg, p < 0.05), but without the compensatory transcriptional upregulation seen in primary CC. These mitochondrial impairments occurred before detectable declines in physical function or systemic inflammation (C-reactive protein, albumin).

conclusionsOur findings reveal stage-specific mitochondrial dysfunction in CC, with early complex I impairment and a transient transcriptional adaptation in primary CC. These alterations precede clinical cachexia, suggesting mitochondrial dysfunction as a potential early biomarker for cancer-induced muscle loss and a target for early intervention.

Indexed as

Colonic NeoplasmsElectron Transport Complex IEnergy MetabolismMuscle, SkeletalAgedFemaleHumansMaleMiddle AgedNeoplasm StagingOxidative PhosphorylationElectron Transport Complex Icolon cancermitochondrial functionmitochondria oxidative respirationskeletal muscle function

Identifiers

PMID41221702
PMCPMC12605958

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.