The mechanism of action of n-3 fatty acids involves
immune modulation with modifications in the arachidonic
acid metabolism, eicosanoid-pathway intermediates, induction
of apoptosis, and proinflammatory cytokines, as well as
the attenuation of increased protein catabolism in muscle. It
is possible that, in future research, patient populations can be
characterized with distinct anorexia/cachexia syndromes, possibly
those with more pronounced inflammatory alterations,
that may respond better to n-3 fatty acids than did our patients
with a variety of advanced malignancies