Potential reasons behind weight loss in advanced cancer uncovered

cancer patient - Researchers at UCL and the Francis Crick Institute believe they are now one step closer to understanding the causes behind cachexia - the sudden loss of weight, appetite and muscle - that some cancer patients experience in the later stages of the disease. The study, which is part of the Cancer Research UK TRACERx programme and is published in Nature Medicine , found distinct patterns of genes that were much more likely to be found in the tumours of patients with cachexia, and could lead to a way to diagnose the condition before symptoms appear. Researchers also found a high correlation with levels of GDF15 (a protein which other studies have previously linked with appetite and weight loss) in the blood. The team believe that by targeting this protein with treatment, they may be able to manage cachexia or prevent it completely. Although involuntary weight loss and muscle wasting has long been linked with fatality, a biological reason for cachexia has eluded scientists. And although up to 80% of patients in an advanced stage of cancer experience some degree of cachexia, it remains complicated to diagnose and there are no globally approved therapies or treatments. Dr Mariam Jamal-Hanjani (UCL Cancer Institute), said: "A biological understanding of this devastating condition has long eluded researchers, but the incredible investment and in-depth sample and data collection in TRACERx has allowed us to begin to make discoveries in cachexia.