Brain–Liver Axis in Cancer-Associated Cachexia: A New Way to Help People with Advanced Cancer
Official title: Deciphering the Brain–Liver Axis in Cancer-Associated Cachexia
Funded at University of Tx Md Anderson Can Ctr · NIH-11425280 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A new approach targets the brain–liver link to treat cancer-related weight loss and muscle wasting in people with advanced cancer.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Tx Md Anderson Can Ctr NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Houston, United States) |
| Project start | August 13, 2026 |
| Project end | July 31, 2031 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $537,531 |
| NIH project number | 1R01CA315660-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11425280 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are adults with advanced cancers (especially pancreatic, gastrointestinal, or lung) who are experiencing or at risk for cancer-associated cachexia.
✕Less likely to help
Patients without cachexia or those unable to participate in non-invasive neuromodulation procedures may be less likely to benefit.
What this research studies
This grant focuses on a novel treatment strategy for cancer-associated cachexia, a debilitating condition that worsens quality of life and survival in patients with advanced cancers. Researchers have identified vagal overactivity as a driver of cachexia and are testing a non-invasive, transcutaneous vagal block to halt or reverse weight loss and muscle loss in preclinical models, with the aim of translating it to patients. The project explores how this approach works with chemotherapy to boost effectiveness and survival, using sophisticated animal models and plans for human studies. If successful, the therapy could become a safe adjunct to existing cancer care, helping patients eat better, stay stronger, and tolerate treatment longer.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this treatment could improve appetite and muscle mass, reduce treatment toxicity, and extend survival for people with advanced cancer experiencing cachexia.
How similar studies have gone: Preclinical work has shown that targeting the brain–liver axis with non-invasive vagal interventions can prevent or reverse cachexia in cancer models.
Where this research is happening
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University of Tx Md Anderson Can Ctr
Houston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Shen, Xiling — University of Tx Md Anderson Can Ctr
- Study coordinator: Shen, Xiling
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.