title: Cancer cachexia.
abstract: Cancer cachexia is a complex, multifactorial syndrome that results from a reduction in food intake, a variety of metabolic abnormalities (including hypermetabolism) or more often a combination of the two. Multiple mediator pathways including pro-inflammatory cytokines, neuroendocrine hormones and tumour-specific factors are involved. Therapy requires a multi-model approach that addresses both reduced food intake and metabolic change. Combination treatments such as nutritional support plus metabolic/inflammation modulation promise improved functional capacity and quality of life.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical and Surgical Sciences (Surgery), Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK. k.earon@ed.ac.uk
authors.forename: Kenneth C H
authors.initials: KC
authors.lastname: Fearon
authors.forename: Alastair G W
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: Moses
mesh_terms: D002100:Cachexia / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology* / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy; D011788:Quality of Life