Cancer Cachexia: Causes and Therapeutic Strategies

Cancer cachexia affects approximately 80% of cancer patients and is characterized by skeletal muscle wasting and reduced fat mass, resulting in weight loss and short survival time. An in-depth understanding of the mechanisms of cancer cachexia can provide platforms for drug and non-pharmacological management of this condition that claims the life of around 20% of cancer patients. Most of the current work in this field is in the pre-clinical stages. However, such preliminary knowledge is anticipated to help guide the design of large and comprehensive clinical trials to establish the safety and efficacy of therapeutic interventions to treat cachexia.