Condition

Cachexia clinical trials and research

• 25Clinical trials
• 85NIH research projects
• 1New in 30 days
• 26Countries

Newest Cachexia clinical trials

All recruiting trials (25)

• DS010 in advanced cancer with cachexia: safety and early signals in adults

  This study tests DS010 in adults with cancer and cachexia to see if it is safe and whether it might help with their condition.

  Recruiting at 4 sites Phase 1/2 Dartsbio Pharmaceuticals Ltd. · Concord West, New South Wales and 3 other locations · NCT07921576

• Spatial multi-omics and AI-based early warning for pancreatic cancer cachexia

  This study tests whether spatial multi-omics data can reveal how the tumor and body metabolism interact in pancreatic cancer cachexia and whether a multimodal AI model can predict cachexia early in adults with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma.

  Recruiting Peking Union Medical College Hospital · Beijing · NCT07670286

• Pathogenesis and Reversal Strategies for Cancer Cachexia Using Multi-Omics

  This study uses multiple omics methods and nutritional interventions to try to find causes and reversal strategies for cachexia in adults with gastrointestinal cancers.

  Recruiting China Medical University, China · Shenyang, Liaoning · NCT07519837

• GB18 injection for tumor cachexia in cancer patients

  This study tests GB18, a humanized GDF15 antibody, to see if it helps cancer patients with cachexia when given as subcutaneous injections.

  Recruiting at 2 sites Phase 1 Kexing Biopharm Co., Ltd. · Beijing, Beijing Municipality and 1 other locations · NCT07519564

• Nanocrystalline megestrol acetate with chemoradiation for locally advanced cervical cancer

  This Phase 1 trial tests whether taking nanocrystalline megestrol acetate by mouth can prevent or reduce weight and muscle loss in adults with locally advanced cervical cancer who are receiving concurrent chemoradiotherapy.

  Recruiting Phase 1 Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University · Changsha, Hunan · NCT07338487

• ASCA101 for cancer-related cachexia

  This study tests ASCA101 at two doses to see if it helps weight gain in people with solid tumors and cachexia.

  Recruiting at 6 sites Phase 2 MetaFines · Seoul, Gangnam-gu and 5 other locations · NCT07168226

• How body composition and psychosocial health relate to outcomes for people receiving immune checkpoint inhibitors

  This project will see if body composition, psychosocial health, and medication-related problems affect side effects, treatment response, and quality of life in adults with cancer treated with immune checkpoint inhibitors.

  Recruiting Hacettepe University · Ankara, Altındağ · NCT07130981

• A New Approach for Kidney Cachexia in Dialysis Patients

  This study tests a combined program of exercise, dietary guidance, and anti-inflammatory supplements to see if it helps prevent muscle loss and tiredness in adults with kidney failure on hemodialysis.

  Recruiting at 2 sites Queen's University, Belfast · Antrim, County Antrim and 1 other locations · NCT07107087

• Validating lab assays, IV catheter techniques, and devices for endocrine, cardiometabolic, and musculoskeletal conditions

  This project will test whether laboratory assays, IV catheter methods, and equipment give consistent, reliable results in adults with or without obesity-related, metabolic, or musculoskeletal conditions.

  Recruiting University of Missouri-Columbia · Columbia, Missouri · NCT07083557

• High-protein, plant-dominant diet for people with liver cirrhosis

  This 6-month test compares a high-protein, mostly plant-based diet to a usual low-fat animal-protein diet in adults with decompensated cirrhosis who are awaiting kidney transplant to see which better preserves nutrition and muscle.

  Recruiting at 2 sites Agricultural University of Athens · Athens, Attica and 1 other locations · NCT07028580

• Ponsegromab plus chemotherapy for adults with metastatic pancreatic cancer and cachexia

  This trial tests whether adding the monoclonal antibody ponsegromab to first-line chemotherapy helps adults with metastatic pancreatic cancer who are losing weight and have fatigue from cachexia.

  Recruiting at 214 sites Phase 2/3 Pfizer · Birmingham, Alabama and 229 other locations · NCT06989437

• Exploring the relationship between gut microbiome and cachexia in chronic kidney disease patients

  This study looks at how the gut bacteria might affect weight loss and muscle wasting in people with chronic kidney disease who are on dialysis.

  Recruiting Université Catholique de Louvain · Brussels and 1 other locations · NCT06986265

• Evaluating Nano-Crystalline Megestrol Acetate for Cachexia in Advanced Digestive Tumors

  This study is testing if a new form of Megestrol Acetate can help adults with advanced digestive tumors gain weight and feel better while they are on cancer treatment.

  Recruiting at 2 sites Changchun GeneScience Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. · Shenyang, Liaoning and 1 other locations · NCT06940102

• Examining how muscle loss affects disease progression

  This study is trying to see how muscle loss affects the health and recovery of patients with liver cirrhosis, cancer, and those on breathing machines.

  Recruiting Universitatsmedizin Mainz - 1. Medizinische Klinik · Mainz, Rhineland-Palatinate · NCT06829290

• SXRN Plasmid DNA Technique in Advanced Solid Tumors

  This early-phase study tests the safety and tolerability of SXRN plasmid DNA given at different doses in adults with advanced solid tumors who have exhausted standard therapies.

  Recruiting Early Phase 1 Jiangsu Nutai Biologics Co., Ltd · Beijing · NCT06736275

• Impact of protein intake on muscle mass and quality of life during and after radiotherapy

  This study looks at how eating enough protein can help cancer patients keep their muscle mass and improve their quality of life during and after radiotherapy.

  Recruiting Charite University, Berlin, Germany · Berlin, State of Berlin · NCT06480266

• Examining brain changes in cancer-related weight loss

  This study is trying to see how cancer-related weight loss affects the brain's ability to control appetite and motivation by comparing people with cancer to healthy volunteers.

  Recruiting University of Cambridge · Cambridge · NCT06112964

• Monitoring body weight and physical activity in cancer patients

  This study is trying to see how monitoring weight and physical activity at home can help people with certain types of cancer better manage their health during treatment.

  Recruiting at 2 sites Academisch Ziekenhuis Maastricht · Maastricht and 1 other locations · NCT05899205

• Assessing nutritional status in gastric cancer patients using bioelectrical impedance analysis

  This study is testing if a special method can help doctors check the nutrition and body health of gastric cancer patients during their treatment to better support their care.

  Recruiting Medical University of Lublin · Lublin · NCT05723718

• Understanding muscle wasting in cancer patients

  This study looks at cancer patients who are losing muscle and weight to see how their body, activity levels, and overall well-being change over time.

  Recruiting University of Edinburgh · Edinburgh · NCT05642819

• Effects of gut bacteria on weight loss in pancreatic cancer patients

  This study is testing how gut bacteria from pancreatic cancer patients and healthy people affect weight loss in mice to see if it can help understand cachexia in cancer patients.

  Recruiting University Hospital, Geneva · Geneva · NCT05606523

• Exploring genetic factors linked to cancer cachexia in pancreatic cancer patients

  This study is trying to see if certain genetic factors are linked to weight loss and muscle wasting in patients with advanced pancreatic cancer.

  Recruiting at 2 sites Wake Forest University Health Sciences · Charlotte, North Carolina and 1 other locations · NCT05376592

• Exploring exercise and molecular factors in cancer-related muscle loss

  This study tests whether exercise can help people with non-small cell lung cancer who are losing muscle mass feel better and improve their quality of life.

  Recruiting University of Copenhagen · Copenhagen, DK · NCT05307367

• Understanding muscle loss in heart failure patients

  This study looks at how factors like lifestyle and nutrition affect muscle loss in people with heart failure compared to healthy individuals.

  Recruiting Aarhus University Hospital · Aarhus N · NCT05063955

• Evaluating the needs of people living with incurable cancer

  This study is trying to understand the needs and experiences of people living with incurable cancer to help improve their care and treatment options.

  Recruiting University of Edinburgh · Edinburgh · NCT04406662

NIH-funded research (newest 40 of 85)

Early-stage science funded by the US National Institutes of Health. Most of these projects don't enroll patients, but they show what is being worked on.

• Mitochondrial pores and muscle loss in cancer cachexia

  A small US-based study will explore how changes in mitochondria contribute to muscle wasting in people with cancer cachexia and how this may be slowed.

  NIH research University of Florida · Gainesville, United States · NIH-11636110

• CANCAN: A Virtual Institute to Cure Cancer Cachexia

  A broad, collaborative NIH initiative aims to uncover why cancer patients lose weight and muscle and to develop new ways to treat this serious condition.

  NIH research New York University School of Medicine · New York, United States · NIH-11596283

• Adipose tissue and its role in lung cancer cachexia

  A new NIH grant explores how fat tissue around the body may feed lung cancer growth and drive weight loss, with the aim of finding ways to help patients who struggle with cancer cachexia.

  NIH research University of Vermont & St Agric College · Burlington, United States · NIH-11587408

• Spatial metabolism mapping in cancer cachexia tissues

  Aims to map where and how metabolism changes in tissues affected by cancer cachexia using advanced imaging technology.

  NIH research Northwestern University · Chicago, United States · NIH-11539627

• Innate inflammatory control of cachexia in chronic disease

  A research team is studying how inflammation drives cachexia in chronic disease using a parasite model to find therapies that could protect lean body mass without raising infection risk.

  NIH research University of Virginia · Charlottesville, United States · NIH-11508215

• Nuclear receptors that may stop muscle wasting in cancer

  This grant explores whether activating specific muscle-regulating receptors can prevent muscle loss in cancer patients.

  NIH research University of Texas Hlth Sci Ctr Houston · Houston, United States · NIH-11499527

• Stopping an enzyme called Transglutaminase 2 to prevent cancer-related muscle loss

  This work explores whether blocking an enzyme called Transglutaminase 2 can stop or reverse the severe muscle wasting that often affects people with pancreatic cancer.

  NIH research Wayne State University · Detroit, United States · NIH-11467747

• How the liver's ketone production affects muscle loss and recovery in pancreatic cancer

  This project looks at whether helping the liver make ketones can prevent muscle wasting and aid recovery for people with pancreatic cancer.

  NIH research Rosalind Franklin Univ of Medicine & Sci · North Chicago, United States · NIH-11457142

• Antibody approaches to prevent weight and muscle loss in pancreatic cancer

  Trying antibody-based therapies to stop or reduce muscle wasting and weight loss in people with pancreatic cancer.

  NIH research Wayne State University · Detroit, United States · NIH-11441340

• Brain–Liver Axis in Cancer-Associated Cachexia: A New Way to Help People with Advanced Cancer

  A new approach targets the brain–liver link to treat cancer-related weight loss and muscle wasting in people with advanced cancer.

  NIH research University of Tx Md Anderson Can Ctr · Houston, United States · NIH-11425280

• Metabolic vulnerability in pancreatic cancer cachexia linked to fat metabolism

  This grant explores why people with pancreatic cancer lose weight and fat tissue and how fat metabolism affects their health and recovery.

  NIH research Oregon Health & Science University · Portland, United States · NIH-11404966

• Complement system and cancer cachexia in pancreatic cancer

  A cancer-focused research project studying how the body's complement system may contribute to muscle and weight loss in people with pancreatic cancer.

  NIH research University of Florida · Gainesville, United States · NIH-11404094

• Muscle wasting in cachexia and how to protect muscle health

  This grant explores how muscle fibrosis and inflammation affect cachexia in cancer and other chronic diseases, focusing on a new mouse model to understand why some treatments stop working.

  NIH research Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago D/b/a Shirley Ryan Abilitylab · Chicago, United States · NIH-11404037

• Electrical impedance measurements to track cancer-related muscle loss

  A first-ever test using a handheld device to measure muscle health in adults with cancer to help diagnose and monitor cancer cachexia.

  NIH research Myolex, INC. · Brookline, UNITED STATES · NIH-11402064

• Targeting Perp in pancreatic cancer and its muscle wasting

  This NIH grant explores a gene called Perp as a potential target to slow pancreatic cancer growth and reduce cachexia in patients.

  NIH research University of North Carolina Charlotte · Charlotte, United States · NIH-11394547

• Matricellular proteins as drivers of cancer-related wasting

  A cancer-focused study is exploring how a specific protein (CTGF/CCN2) may cause muscle and body wasting in pancreatic cancer patients, with the aim of shaping new treatments.

  NIH research University of Florida · Gainesville, United States · NIH-11384624

• IGFBP1 and a liver-bone-muscle link in colorectal cancer cachexia

  Aims to understand how a liver-made protein (IGFBP1) contributes to muscle and bone wasting in people with colorectal cancer that has spread to the liver.

  NIH research University of Colorado Denver · Aurora, UNITED STATES · NIH-11382960

• Understanding how muscle wasting in cancer might start in a fruit-fly model

  Researchers are studying why cancer causes muscle loss by using a fruit-fly model to see if problems with a muscle protein, myosin heavy chain, kick off cachexia.

  NIH research Sam Houston State University · Huntsville, United States · NIH-11380906

• TGFβ2 and macrophages in cancer-related muscle wasting

  This project looks at whether a protein called TGFβ2 and a type of immune cell (M2 macrophages) cause muscle and weight loss in people with cancer.

  NIH research University of South Carolina at Columbia · Columbia, United States · NIH-11371200

• Blocking Perp to slow pancreatic cancer and cancer-related muscle wasting

  This project will test whether lowering a protein called Perp can shrink pancreatic tumors and help people with pancreatic cancer who are losing weight and muscle.

  NIH research University of North Carolina Charlotte · Charlotte, United States · NIH-11363734

• Metabolic drivers of cancer cachexia–related heart weakness

  A study in mice explores how metabolism in the heart is affected by cancer cachexia and tests a mitochondrial stabilizing treatment to protect heart function.

  NIH research Baylor University · Waco, United States · NIH-11359804

• Targeting muscle fatigue in breast cancer patients

  A study in mice and lab models explores ways to prevent muscle fatigue in people with breast cancer using a treatment that affects how mitochondria produce energy.

  NIH research West Virginia University · Morgantown, United States · NIH-11330244

• Neuromodulation via a non-invasive nerve device to help cancer-related wasting

  A new, non-invasive nerve stimulation approach aims to help people with cancer-associated cachexia by targeting the gut–brain axis to improve weight and metabolism.

  NIH research Onvagus, INC. · Woodland Hills, UNITED STATES · NIH-11313729

• Imaging and targeted nanoparticle therapy for pancreatic cancer-related weight loss

  Using advanced imaging and nanoparticles that deliver gene-silencing medicine to try to stop or reverse severe weight loss in people with pancreatic cancer.

  NIH research Johns Hopkins University · Baltimore, United States · NIH-11307168

• BNIP3 and muscle wasting in pancreatic cancer

  This work looks at whether a protein called BNIP3 drives muscle wasting in people with pancreatic cancer and whether muscle-derived blood markers could help detect cancer earlier.

  NIH research University of Chicago · Chicago, United States · NIH-11241130

• Boosting the body's inflammation-resolution signals to counter cancer-related wasting

  Seeks to boost the body's natural inflammation-resolution signals to reduce muscle and weight loss in people with advanced cancer.

  NIH research Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center · Boston, United States · NIH-11237614

• Network to cure cancer-related weight and muscle loss

  A team of doctors and scientists is joining forces to find why cancer causes severe weight and muscle loss and to create better ways to help people with cancer-related wasting.

  NIH research New York University School of Medicine · New York, United States · NIH-11237222

• Targeting cancer cachexia drivers with antibody-based therapies

  A cancer-focused research grant aims to find antibody-based ways to prevent or treat muscle wasting in patients with pancreatic cancer.

  NIH research Wayne State University · Detroit, United States · NIH-11235138

• Blocking RANKL to prevent muscle and bone loss in cancer cachexia

  This project tests whether blocking a protein called RANKL can help people with cancer avoid losing muscle and bone.

  NIH research University of Colorado Denver · Aurora, UNITED STATES · NIH-11229603

• Targeting JAK/STAT-driven fat loss in cancer

  This project aims to find ways to stop or reverse the fat and weight loss caused by cancer-related inflammation in people with advanced cancer.

  NIH research Ut Southwestern Medical Center · Dallas, United States · NIH-11211088

• Why pancreatic cancer causes rapid fat and muscle loss

  This project tests whether abnormal fat burning in people with pancreatic cancer causes the severe weight and muscle loss called cachexia and whether fixing that metabolism could help patients.

  NIH research Oregon Health & Science University · Portland, United States · NIH-11178485

• Proteins called CCN/CTGF that may drive cancer-related muscle and weight loss

  This work looks at whether blocking a tumor-made protein called CTGF can stop or reverse muscle and weight loss in people with pancreatic cancer.

  NIH research University of Florida · Gainesville, United States · NIH-11176299

• Stopping cancer-related fat loss caused by JAK/STAT signals

  This work aims to find ways to block JAK/STAT signals that make people with advanced cancer lose fat and weight.

  NIH research Ut Southwestern Medical Center · Dallas, United States · NIH-11175336

• IGFBP1 — a liver protein linked to muscle and bone loss in colorectal cancer

  This work focuses on a liver protein called IGFBP1 that may drive muscle and bone wasting in people with colorectal cancer, especially when the cancer spreads to the liver.

  NIH research University of Colorado Denver · Aurora, UNITED STATES · NIH-11173599

• Complement proteins and cancer-related muscle loss

  This project checks whether blocking complement proteins can reduce muscle wasting in people with cancer.

  NIH research University of Florida · Gainesville, United States · NIH-11170490

• Treating nerve- and hormone-related weight loss and fatigue in people with cancer

  This project tests ways to calm brain inflammation and stress-hormone overactivity that contribute to poor appetite, muscle loss, fatigue, and heart problems in people with cancer.

  NIH research Oregon Health & Science University · Portland, United States · NIH-11167682

• Investigating ways to reverse weight loss caused by pancreatic cancer.

  This study is looking at ways to help people with pancreatic cancer who are experiencing severe weight loss by using special techniques to target and change how their bodies process certain nutrients, with the hope of improving their health and well-being.

  NIH research Johns Hopkins University · Baltimore, United States · NIH-11167154

• A network aimed at understanding and treating cancer cachexia

  This study is looking into cancer cachexia, a tough condition that causes weight loss and muscle loss in many cancer patients, to find out how tumors affect the body and to discover new ways to help improve treatment and quality of life for those affected.

  NIH research New York University School of Medicine · New York, United States · NIH-11163814

• Stopping muscle wasting in pancreatic cancer-related cachexia

  Testing ways to block a cell-signaling pathway to help people with pancreatic cancer who are losing muscle and weight.

  NIH research Medical University of South Carolina · Charleston, United States · NIH-11144579

• How the body's environment drives weight and muscle loss in pancreatic cancer

  Seeing if targeting inflammatory signals around pancreatic tumors can reduce severe weight and muscle loss in people with pancreatic cancer.

  NIH research Medical University of South Carolina · Charleston, United States · NIH-11144575

Related topics

Quick answers

How many Cachexia clinical trials are recruiting right now?

25, as of November 12, 2026. 1 of them was first registered in the last 30 days. We update this list each time we refresh our data from ClinicalTrials.gov.

Where are these trials running?

In 26 countries. The most sites are in China (7 trials), United Kingdom (5 trials), Germany (3 trials), United States (3 trials), Australia (2 trials). Each study page lists its sites and which ones are recruiting.

What phases are they in?

Phase 1: 2, Phase 2/3: 1, Phase 1/2: 1, Early Phase 1: 1. Trials with no phase listed are usually device, behavioural or observational studies.

How do I join one?

Open a study, check the "Is this trial a fit for you?" section, then contact the study team listed on the page. They will ask a few screening questions. Asking is free and does not commit you to anything. Talk it over with your doctor first.

Find the studies that fit you

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