Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 30, 2025

08:55
The Colon-26 Carcinoma Tumor-bearing Mouse as a Model for the Study of Cancer Cachexia
Published on: November 30, 2016
16.3K
Cancer cachexia as a blueprint for treating obesity
Nikolai P Jaschke1, Tilman D Rachner1
1Division of Endocrinology, Department of Medicine III, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany.
Trends in Endocrinology and Metabolism: TEM
|May 12, 2023
Summary
Developing novel obesity treatments may be advanced by reverse engineering cancer cachexia. This approach identifies molecular targets and existing drugs for effective weight management therapies.
Area of Science:
- Metabolic disorders and oncology
- Pharmacological research and drug discovery
Background:
- Obesity pharmacotherapy has limited efficacy for sustained weight loss.
- Cancer cachexia represents an extreme form of energy imbalance with net catabolism.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore the 'reverse engineering' of cancer cachexia for obesity treatment development.
- To identify molecular checkpoints and therapeutic targets translatable from cachexia to obesity.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of three phenotypic features of cancer cachexia.
- Summarization of underlying molecular checkpoints.
- Exploration of translational applications in obesity research.
Main Results:
- Identification of potential therapeutic targets by analyzing cancer cachexia.
- Examples of established pharmaceuticals applicable via reverse engineering logic.
- Proposal of novel targets for future obesity studies.
Conclusions:
- A reverse engineering strategy, inspired by cancer cachexia, can drive innovative obesity pharmacotherapies.
- This approach offers a generic framework for developing novel treatments for complex diseases.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
Obesity
556
The Body Mass Index (BMI) is a numerical value derived from a person's weight and height, used to categorize individuals into weight ranges. It is calculated using the formula: weight in kilograms divided by height in meters squared. Obesity is a health condition characterized by excessive accumulation of adipose tissue that poses health risks, often diagnosed with a BMI ≥ 30. This excess fat storage occurs when surplus dietary calories are converted into triglycerides and stored in...
556
Adaptive Mechanisms in Cancer Cells
5.9K
Cancer cells accumulate genetic changes at an abnormally rapid rate due to the defects in the DNA repair mechanisms. From an evolutionary perspective, such genetic instability is advantageous for cancer development. Mutant cell lines accumulate a series of beneficial mutations that contribute to their progression into cancer.
Some of the advantages that cancer cells have on normal cells include - enhanced ability to divide without terminally differentiating, induce new blood vessel formation,...
Some of the advantages that cancer cells have on normal cells include - enhanced ability to divide without terminally differentiating, induce new blood vessel formation,...
5.9K
Combination Therapies and Personalized Medicine
5.0K
Combining two or more treatment methods increases the life span of cancer patients while reducing damage to vital organs or tissue from the overuse of a single treatment. Combination therapy also targets different cancer-inducing pathways, thus reducing the chances of developing resistance to treatment.
The combination of the drug acetazolamide and sulforaphane is a good example of combination therapy to treat cancer. The cells in the interior of a large tumor often die due to the hypoxic and...
The combination of the drug acetazolamide and sulforaphane is a good example of combination therapy to treat cancer. The cells in the interior of a large tumor often die due to the hypoxic and...
5.0K
Cancer Therapies
7.8K
Cancer therapies are various modes of treatment, such as surgery, radiation therapy, and chemotherapy that are administered to cancer patients.
However, cancer treatments can pose several challenges, as therapies used to kill cancer cells are generally also toxic to normal cells. Moreover, cancer cells mutate rapidly and can develop resistance to chemical agents or radiation therapy. Besides, all types of cancer cells may not respond to the same therapy. Some cancer cells respond to one...
However, cancer treatments can pose several challenges, as therapies used to kill cancer cells are generally also toxic to normal cells. Moreover, cancer cells mutate rapidly and can develop resistance to chemical agents or radiation therapy. Besides, all types of cancer cells may not respond to the same therapy. Some cancer cells respond to one...
7.8K
Cancer Prevention
6.2K
Several factors can increase the risk of cancer in an individual. About 50% of cancer cases can be prevented by adopting a healthy lifestyle, regular exercise, eating healthy, and following a modest cancer prevention diet. Epidemiological studies have consistently shown that populations with vegetable and fruit-rich diets have reduced the incidence of cancer. On the other hand, populations who have a diet rich in animal fat, red meat, junk food, or high calories are predisposed to cancer.
Some...
Some...
6.2K
Cancer Survival Analysis
403
Cancer survival analysis focuses on quantifying and interpreting the time from a key starting point, such as diagnosis or the initiation of treatment, to a specific endpoint, such as remission or death. This analysis provides critical insights into treatment effectiveness and factors that influence patient outcomes, helping to shape clinical decisions and guide prognostic evaluations. A cornerstone of oncology research, survival analysis tackles the challenges of skewed, non-normally...
403

