Scottsdale Healthcare begins trials to improve muscle strength in cancer patients

August 18, 2008

By hammersmith

[Source: Phoenix Business journal] – Scottsdale Healthcare has launched a clinical trial studying patient response to a new medication for improving muscle strength in those with advanced cancer.

Muscle weakness and atrophy affect up to 80 percent of cancer patients, according to research physicians at the TGen Clinical Research Services at Scottsdale Healthcare. Skeletal muscle loss leads to weakness, fatigue, infirmity and decreased quality of life.

The study, open to new patients, is working with myostatin, a natural protein found in human and animal muscles that acts to block or slow skeletal muscle growth. By using an anti-myostatin, there is potential to slow or reverse muscle wasting, researchers say.

TCRS is an alliance between Scottsdale Healthcare and Phoenix-based Translational Genomics Research Institute. Scottsdale Healthcare is the not-for-profit parent of Scottsdale Healthcare Osborn, Scottsdale Healthcare Shea and Scottsdale Healthcare Thompson Peak hospitals as well as other entities. For more: Joyce Ingold, 480-323-1339 or jingold@shc.org.