title: Biomarkers for cancer cachexia: is there also a genetic component to cachexia?
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Cancer cachexia is a severe debilitating disorder, which causes significant morbidity and mortality. In clinical practice, cachexia is often not treated until a late stage, when therapeutic options are limited.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  It is therefore of great interest to analyse early biomarkers of this syndrome.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In this review article, we summarise recent biomarkers found in various body compartments. We also explore the likelihood of a genetic predisposition to cachexia and focus on the potential role of single nucleotide polymorphisms in genes coding for pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines, and 'atrogenes' associated with wasting in skeletal muscle.
authors: Clinical and Surgical Sciences (Surgery), School of Clinical Sciences and Community Health, The University of Edinburgh, Royal Infirmary, Edinburgh, UK. benjamin.tan@ed.ac.uk
authors: B H L
authors: BH
authors: Tan
authors: D A C
authors: DA
authors: Deans
authors: R J E
authors: RJ
authors: Skipworth
authors: J A
authors: JA
authors: Ross
authors: K C H
authors: KC
authors: Fearon
mesh_terms: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics*; D002100:Cachexia / Q000235:genetics*; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000150:complications*
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor