title: Cachexia: a preventable comorbidity of cancer. A T.A.R.G.E.T. approach.
abstract: Although relevant achievements in the treatment of cancer have been obtained, some barriers still remain in the prevention and treatments of cancer comorbidities, including cachexia. Indeed, the enormous advances in the understanding of the pathogenesis of cancer cachexia have not been paralleled by effective strategies aimed at modifying the cultural approach to this devastating condition. Too little attention is still paid to the nutritional and metabolic changes occurring in cancer, despite their negative effects on patients' tolerance to antineoplastic treatments and outcome. We propose a T.A.R.G.E.T. approach as a novel strategy, encompassing active interventions and research development within the different domains influencing the onset and the progression of cancer cachexia. Moreover, based on the most recent clinical evidences, we suggest that cachexia should be considered a comorbidity of cancer.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Italy. Electronic address: maurizio.muscaritoli@uniroma1.it.
authors.forename: Maurizio
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Muscaritoli
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Alessio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Molfino
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Simone
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lucia
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Filippo
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Rossi Fanelli
mesh_terms: D002100:Cachexia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D015897:Comorbidity; D015444:Exercise; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology; D010353:Patient Education as Topic
keywords: Cachexia; Cancer; Comorbidity; Prevention; Therapy