CANCAN: A Virtual Institute to Cure Cancer Cachexia
Official title: The CANcer Cachexia Action Network (CANCAN): a Multidisciplinary Virtual Institute with the Mission to Cure Cancer Cachexia
Funded at New York University School of Medicine · NIH-11596283 · Data updated 2026-11-12
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.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | New York University School of Medicine NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New York, United States) |
| Project start | June 1, 2024 |
| Project end | May 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $814,764 |
| NIH project number | 3OT2CA301505-01S2 |
| Project ID | NIH-11596283 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Individuals with cancer who experience or are at risk of cachexia and related wasting.
✕Less likely to help
Patients without cancer cachexia or those not experiencing weight/muscle loss may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This project brings together experts from many disciplines to study cancer cachexia, a syndrome where weight and muscle are lost despite good nutrition. It uses a virtual institute model to share data, ideas, and resources across international teams. The goal is to identify the upstream causes and mechanisms driving cachexia and to translate discoveries into therapies that improve patients’ quality of life and survival.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, patients with cancer cachexia could experience better treatment tolerance, preserved muscle, and longer, higher-quality lives.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work has advanced understanding of cachexia pathways, but this project aims to identify upstream mediators and test new therapeutic approaches.
Where this research is happening
-
New York University School of Medicine
New York, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Goncalves, Marcus Dasilva — New York University School of Medicine
- Study coordinator: Goncalves, Marcus Dasilva
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
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.
-
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.
-
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.
-
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.
-
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.
-
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.
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.