A solid tumour can cause muscle cells in the body to self-destruct. Many cancer patients die from the consequences. Now researchers are discovering more about how cancer cells in a tumour can take control of muscle cell wasting and trigger a chronic, serious condition.
This type of cancer-related muscle wasting is due to a complicated metabolic syndrome called cachexia. The name comes from the Greek words for “bad condition”, which is quite descriptive for the health state of patients after a tumour has triggered muscle atrophy in their bodies over a long period.