Pathophysiological remodeling of the skeletal muscle microenvironment in patients with lung cancer

Abstract

Background Muscle wasting, systemic inflammation, and functional decline are highly prevalent and detrimental in patients with advanced-stage non small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Methods: In this cross sectional study, we investigated NSCLC associated muscle remodeling by analyzing skeletal muscle biopsies from patients with NSCLC (n = 18) and matched controls (n = 18) using quantitative proteomics, histology, fluorescence-activated cell sorting, gene expression profiling, and high resolution respirometry. Findings: NSCLC muscle was characterized by type II muscle fiber atrophy, greater collagen deposition, and redistribution of lipids to the extracellular matrix (ECM), together with remodeling of the inflammatory, immune, ECM and mitochondrial proteome. Additionally, mitochondrial respiratory capacity and morphology were altered in patients with NSCLC, which was associated with increased oxidative stress and dysregulated calcium handling. Concomitantly, we detected STAT3 activation and immune cell alterations, which may negatively impact skeletal muscle health in patients with NSCLC. Finally, we identified a shift in fibro-adipogenic progenitors (FAPs), favoring the CD90 subtype. Mechanistically, conditioned media from patient-derived FAPs reduced myotube width in vitro, uncovering a novel mechanism by which altered paracrine signaling from the muscle resident stromal compartment drives atrophy in cancer cachexia. Interpretation: These findings provide human evidence that altered FAP composition, mitochondrial homeostasis, calcium handling, and immune cell landscape accompany muscle wasting in NSCLC, which may inform therapeutic strategies to preserve skeletal muscle health in patients with cancer.