Fig. 1

Schematic highlighting cancer cachexia as a multi-organ syndrome: Cancer cachexia is regulated by signals that are released from the primary tumor, but also by mechanisms initiated by the host response. These pathways involve a wide range of organs, of which the main ones are indicated here. While the classical cachexia organs such as skeletal muscle and the fat depots have been in focus for quite some time, other major tissues such as the liver, the heart, the gut, and the brain are now known to be impacted or involved (as listed by the bullet points) in this syndrome, and are making their way into the spotlight