Cachexia

From Molecular Insights to Clinical Strategies: Delve into the complexities of cachexia, encompassing cancer cachexia, molecular mechanisms, and evolving therapeutic approaches. Discover the forefront of research aimed at understanding and combating this debilitating condition.

AllAgeingCachexiaCancer CachexiaClinical TrialsExerciseFrailtyFrom the literatureGuidelinesMuscleNutritionOther SCWD EventsSarcopenia

From Symptom to Outcome: Defining Clinically Meaningful Patient-Reported Appetite Loss in Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer.

BACKGROUND

Appetite loss is a common and distressing symptom in non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC), driven by both treatment side effects and disease progression. It often leads to unintended weight loss and cancer cachexia, significantly impairing patients' quality of life and survival....

🗓️ 2025-12-04
📰 Publication: Journal Of Cachexia Sarcopenia And Muscle
Read MoreFrom Symptom to Outcome: Defining Clinically Meaningful Patient-Reported Appetite Loss in Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer.

Mechanosensitive Piezo1 Channels Mediate Diaphragm Fibrosis Induced by Prolonged Mechanical Ventilation.

BACKGROUND

Ventilator-induced diaphragmatic dysfunction (VIDD) is a major complication in critically ill patients. Prolonged mechanical ventilation (MV) triggers diaphragmatic fibrotic remodelling, but the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. This study investigated the role of the mechanosensitive channel Piezo1 in this process.

METHODS

A rat...

🗓️ 2025-12-03
📰 Publication: Journal Of Cachexia Sarcopenia And Muscle
Read MoreMechanosensitive Piezo1 Channels Mediate Diaphragm Fibrosis Induced by Prolonged Mechanical Ventilation.

Evaluation of Weight Gain and Overall Survival of Men Versus Women With Advanced Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer.

BACKGROUND

Weight stabilization or gain during cancer treatment is associated with increased survival. Analyses of weight gain by sex during cancer treatment and the effects of weight on survival have not been fully studied. This post hoc analysis retrospectively examined the...

🗓️ 2025-12-03
📰 Publication: Journal Of Cachexia Sarcopenia And Muscle
Read MoreEvaluation of Weight Gain and Overall Survival of Men Versus Women With Advanced Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer.

Revisiting Cancer Cachexia Staging: Introducing an "At Risk" Category Based on AWGC Components.

Cancer cachexia is a multifactorial syndrome characterized by progressive weight loss, muscle wasting, and systemic inflammation. Early identification of individuals at risk for cachexia is essential for timely intervention, yet a universally accepted definition of the "at risk" stage remains...

🗓️ 2025-11-20
📰 Publication: Thoracic Cancer
Read MoreRevisiting Cancer Cachexia Staging: Introducing an "At Risk" Category Based on AWGC Components.

Blocking glycogen synthase 1 in white adipose tissue alleviates hypermetabolism following severe burn injury through inhibition of JAK2 by UDPG.

Browning of white adipose tissue (WAT) contributes to the sustained hypermetabolism observed in patients with burns. How glycogen metabolism in WAT is linked to burn-induced hypermetabolism remains unknown. We discover that burn-induced UCP1 expression in subcutaneous WAT is accompanied by...

🗓️ 2025-11-19
📰 Publication: Cell Reports
Read MoreBlocking glycogen synthase 1 in white adipose tissue alleviates hypermetabolism following severe burn injury through inhibition of JAK2 by UDPG.

Differences in peak oxygen uptake in heart failure patients with and without cachexia: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Chronic heart failure (CHF) is characterized by reduced peak oxygen consumption (VO 2peak). Cachexia may exacerbate the decline in VO 2peak from reductions in muscle mass and strength. We sought to assess differences in VO 2peak between patients with CHF...

🗓️ 2025-11-17
Read MoreDifferences in peak oxygen uptake in heart failure patients with and without cachexia: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Advancements of investigational agents for cancer cachexia: what clinical progress have we seen in the last 5 years?

INTRODUCTION

Cancer cachexia is a multifactorial syndrome affecting up to 80% of advanced cancer patients, associated with poor quality of life, increased cancer-treatment toxicity, and reduced survival. Despite its clinical burden, no FDA- or EMA-approved pharmacologic therapies currently exist.

AREAS COVERED

This review...

🗓️ 2025-11-12
📰 Publication: Expert Opinion On Investigational Drugs
Read MoreAdvancements of investigational agents for cancer cachexia: what clinical progress have we seen in the last 5 years?

A Creatinine-CAR Composite Index (CCAR) Optimized by Machine Learning for Prognosis in Cancer Cachexia.

BACKGROUND

Cancer cachexia is a multifactorial syndrome associated with poor prognosis and impaired quality of life in cancer patients. However, survival prediction in cancer cachexia remains difficult due to the lack of reliable biomarkers.

METHODS

This retrospective cohort study analysed data from 1,367...

🗓️ 2025-11-11
📰 Publication: Journal Of Cachexia Sarcopenia And Muscle
Read MoreA Creatinine-CAR Composite Index (CCAR) Optimized by Machine Learning for Prognosis in Cancer Cachexia.

Lean Body Mass Associates With a Hypertensive Cardiovascular Phenotype in Men but Not in Women.

BACKGROUND

Lean body mass (LBM) is independently associated with the function and structure of the cardiovascular (CV) system in women and genetically predisposed men with low LBM. Yet, the relationship between LBM and the CV system remains uncertain in the general...

🗓️ 2025-11-10
📰 Publication: Journal Of Cachexia Sarcopenia And Muscle
Read MoreLean Body Mass Associates With a Hypertensive Cardiovascular Phenotype in Men but Not in Women.

Efficacy and safety of anamorelin for cancer cachexia in patients with unresectable or recurrent gastric cancer: a multicentre, open-label, randomised controlled trial.

BACKGROUND

Anamorelin, a ghrelin receptor agonist, has shown efficacy in lung cancer cachexia. We conducted the first randomized controlled trial to evaluate its effects in gastric cancer cachexia.

METHODS

In this multicenter, open-label randomized controlled trial conducted across 10 hospitals in Japan, patients...

🗓️ 2025-11-03
📰 Publication: Eclinicalmedicine
Read MoreEfficacy and safety of anamorelin for cancer cachexia in patients with unresectable or recurrent gastric cancer: a multicentre, open-label, randomised controlled trial.

GFRAL-Fc disarms GDF15 to reprogram tumor immunity and amplify PD-1 efficacy in hepatocellular carcinoma.

BACKGROUND

Checkpoint inhibitors have revolutionized hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) treatment, yet their efficacy remains limited in advanced stages, with suboptimal objective response rates. Growth differentiation factor 15 (GDF15), a dual-functional cytokine implicated in tumor progression and immunosuppression, represents a promising therapeutic target....

🗓️ 2025-10-15
Read MoreGFRAL-Fc disarms GDF15 to reprogram tumor immunity and amplify PD-1 efficacy in hepatocellular carcinoma.

Association of Android and Gynoid Fatness With Incident Dementia and Brain Structure.

BACKGROUND

The relationship between regional adiposity and dementia remains poorly understood.

METHODS

This study included 440 861 UK Biobank participants initially free of dementia, stroke and cancer. Hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) of dementia across quartiles of waist circumference (WC) or...

🗓️ 2025-10-01
📰 Publication: Journal Of Cachexia Sarcopenia And Muscle
Read MoreAssociation of Android and Gynoid Fatness With Incident Dementia and Brain Structure.

CACHEXIA DEFINITION

Cachexia has been defined as a loss of lean tissue mass, involving a weight loss greater than 5% of body weight in 12 months or less in the presence of chronic illness or as a body mass index (BMI) lower than 20 kg/m2. In addition, usually three of the following five criteria are required: decreased muscle strength, fatigue, anorexia, low fat-free mass index, increase of inflammation markers such as C-reactive protein or interleukin (IL)-6 as well as anaemia or low serum albumin.

Cachexia can occur in most major diseases including infections, cancer, heart disease, chronic kidney disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and stroke.

REFERENCES
Evans WJ, Morley JE, Argiles J, Bales C, Baracos V, Guttridge D, et al. Cachexia: a new definition. Clin Nutr 2008;27:793–799

Fearon K, Strasser F, Anker SD, Bosaeus I, Bruera E, Fainsinger RL, Jatoi A, Loprinzi C, MacDonald N, Mantovani G, Davis M, Muscaritoli M, Ottery F, Radbruch L, Ravasco P, Walsh D, Wilcock A, Kaasa S, Baracos VE. Definition and classification of cancer cachexia: an international consensus. Lancet Oncol 2011;12:489–495.

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