Promising preclinical approaches to combating cancer-associated cachexia/tissue wasting.

Abstract

Purpose of review: To highlight promising pre-clinical work seeking to target cancer-associated tissue/muscle wasting.

Recent findings: This narrative review explores recent innovations and emerging/understudied aspects of cancer cachexia biology, highlighting representative studies across three key areas: (a) novel strategies for targeting established wasting pathways, (b) multimodal/combinatorial therapeutic approaches, and (c) mechanisms involving inter-tissue communication.

Summary: Though not exhaustive, this review highlights three key areas of pre-clinical research with the potential to inform and inspire future clinical trials aimed at mitigating cachexia and tissue wasting in cancer patients.