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

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

<p><b>INTRODUCTION</b></p><p>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.</p><p><b>AREAS COVERED</b></p><p>This review...

๐Ÿ—“๏ธ 2025-11-12
๐Ÿ“ฐ Publication: Expert Opinion On Investigational Drugs
Read MoreAdvancements of investigational agents for cancer cachexia: what clinical progress have we seen in the last 5โ€‰years?

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

<p><b>BACKGROUND</b></p><p>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.</p><p><b>METHODS</b></p><p>This retrospective cohort study analysed data from 1,367...

๐Ÿ—“๏ธ 2025-11-11
๐Ÿ“ฐ 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.

<p><b>BACKGROUND</b></p><p>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...

๐Ÿ—“๏ธ 2025-11-10
๐Ÿ“ฐ 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.

<p><b>BACKGROUND</b></p><p>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.</p><p><b>METHODS</b></p><p>In this multicenter, open-label randomized controlled trial conducted across 10 hospitals in Japan, patients...

๐Ÿ—“๏ธ 2025-11-03
๐Ÿ“ฐ 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.

<p><b>BACKGROUND</b></p><p>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....

๐Ÿ—“๏ธ 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.

<p><b>BACKGROUND</b></p><p>The relationship between regional adiposity and dementia remains poorly understood.</p><p><b>METHODS</b></p><p>This study included 440โ€‰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...

๐Ÿ—“๏ธ 2025-10-01
๐Ÿ“ฐ Publication: Journal Of Cachexia Sarcopenia And Muscle
Read MoreAssociation of Android and Gynoid Fatness With Incident Dementia and Brain Structure.

Impact of Annual Dry Weight Changes on Mortality and Cardiovascular Outcomes in Patients Undergoing Haemodialysis.

<p><b>BACKGROUND</b></p><p>While obesity confers a survival advantage, weight loss adversely affects the survival of patients undergoing haemodialysis. However, given the limited information regarding its long-term effects on mortality and cardiovascular events, the health benefits of weight gain remain uncertain, particularly in...

๐Ÿ—“๏ธ 2025-10-01
๐Ÿ“ฐ Publication: Journal Of Cachexia Sarcopenia And Muscle
Read MoreImpact of Annual Dry Weight Changes on Mortality and Cardiovascular Outcomes in Patients Undergoing Haemodialysis.

Association Between Sarcopenia and the Long-Term Risk of Intervertebral Disc Degeneration.

<p><b>BACKGROUND</b></p><p>Sarcopenia and intervertebral disc degeneration (IDD) are both highly prevalent among the elderly and have a substantial impact on their quality of life. However, the association between sarcopenia and IDD remains unclear. This study aimed to investigate whether sarcopenia is...

๐Ÿ—“๏ธ 2025-10-01
๐Ÿ“ฐ Publication: Journal Of Cachexia Sarcopenia And Muscle
Read MoreAssociation Between Sarcopenia and the Long-Term Risk of Intervertebral Disc Degeneration.

Pancreatic Damage in Ovarian Cancer-Associated Cachexia Is Driven by Activin A Signalling.

<p><b>BACKGROUND</b></p><p>Cancer-associated cachexia (CAC) is a severe metabolic disorder characterized by involuntary weight loss, skeletal muscle atrophy and adipose tissue depletion. It is a major contributor to morbidity and mortality in the advanced stages of various cancers. However, the impact of...

๐Ÿ—“๏ธ 2025-10-01
๐Ÿ“ฐ Publication: Journal Of Cachexia Sarcopenia And Muscle
Read MorePancreatic Damage in Ovarian Cancer-Associated Cachexia Is Driven by Activin A Signalling.

Adipose-tumor crosstalk in colorectal cancer: Identifying (Epi)genetic biomarkers for tumor progression and cachexia.

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a leading cause of cancer-related deaths and obesity is a known risk factor for its development and poor prognosis. Adipose tissue (AT) actively contributes to CRC progression and cachexia. Here, we investigated molecular crosstalk between tumor...

๐Ÿ—“๏ธ 2025-10-06
๐Ÿ“ฐ Publication: Cell Death & Disease
Read MoreAdipose-tumor crosstalk in colorectal cancer: Identifying (Epi)genetic biomarkers for tumor progression and cachexia.

New models for cancer cachexia and their application to drug discovery.

Cancer cachexia (CC) is a multifactorial syndrome characterized by progressive weight loss, anorexia, and loss of skeletal muscle and fat mass, resulting in reduced quality of life and poor prognosis. Currently, there are no approved pharmacological treatments for CC, highlighting...

๐Ÿ—“๏ธ 2025-10-03
๐Ÿ“ฐ Publication: Expert Opinion On Drug Discovery
Read MoreNew models for cancer cachexia and their application to drug discovery.

CACHEXIA DEFINITION

Cachexia has been defined as a loss of lean tissue mass, involving a weight loss greater than 5% of body weight in 12โ€‰months or less in the presence of chronic illness or as a body mass index (BMI) lower than 20โ€‰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;27:793โ€“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;12:489โ€“495.

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