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Table 1 Estimates of the energetic costs of cancer and comparable tissues

From: Modeling the energetic cost of cancer as a result of altered energy metabolism: implications for cachexia

Organ

K aerobic (kcal/kg/day)

K anaerobic (kcal/kg/day)

K cancer or K organ (kcal/kg/day)

K Cori (kcal/kg/day)

K cost (kcal/kg/day)

Cancer: Study A [35]

150 ± 55

50 ± 18

200 ± 73

150 ± 55

300 ± 110

Cancer: Study B [32]

200 to 230

50 to 80

270 to 310

200 to 230

400 to 470

Liver [39]

200

0

200

0

200

Heart [39]

440

0

440

0

440

Kidney [39]

440

0

440

0

440

Brain [39]

240

0

240

0

240

Skeletal muscle [39]

13

0

13

0

13

  1. The specific energetic cost of cancer, with X anaerobic  = 25 %, are compared with various other organs. Typical organs are assumed to have complete oxidation. Cost is rounded to two significant figures. Study A was a study of n = 18 metastatic colorectal cancer patients [35]. Study B was a study of n = 85 cancer patients studied preoperatively, with a majority of patients having solid tumors of the gastrointestinal tract, retroperitoneum, or limbs [32]. Ranges of cost were given due to patient mass in the studies not being provided. Details of calculations involved in K cost for Study B are detailed in Additional file 3, and were based on the plot of oxygen consumption of patients and their tumor bulk with r2 = 0.79. Estimates of energetic costs of cancer should be taken with caution, as they could be highly variable due to the type of cancer studied