Cachexia

Cancer cachexia is a complex syndrome characterized by tissue loss (fat, cardiac muscle, and skeletal muscle), decreased appetite (anorexia), fatigue, reduced activity and reduced survival (see Figure).

Cancer cachexia can be helped, but only partially reversed, with nutritional support. It is caused by inflammation and metabolic dysfunction driven by the tumor’s activity and its influence on the patient. An important aspect of this condition is that tumors adapt to using most of the available energy sources by redirecting them away from the normal tissues.