Preventing cancer-related weight and muscle loss
CANCAN - COLDSPRING
Researchers are looking for what causes and how to treat the severe weight and muscle loss that affects many people with cancer.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Cold Spring Harbor, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11235481 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Teams of scientists and clinicians are working together to find tumor signals that trigger appetite loss, metabolic changes, and wasting of muscle and fat. They combine advanced lab work in animals (including isotope tracing and imaging mass spectrometry) with detailed clinical measurements and sample collection from people with cancer. This virtual institute approach links international labs and clinical sites so patients may be asked to provide clinical data or biospecimens and undergo precise metabolic tests. The goal is to pinpoint targets that could be turned into new treatments to stop or reverse cancer cachexia.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates would be adults with cancer who are experiencing unintended weight, muscle, or appetite loss (signs of cachexia) and who can attend study visits at participating centers.
Not a fit: People without cancer, those whose weight loss is due to non-cancer causes, or patients unwilling to undergo testing and sample collection are unlikely to receive direct benefit from this project.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to tests or therapies that prevent or reverse cancer-related wasting, improving quality of life and tolerance to cancer treatments.
How similar studies have performed: Prior studies have mapped pathways linked to wasting but have not yet produced effective therapies, so this integrated translational effort is relatively novel.
Where this research is happening
Cold Spring Harbor, United States
- Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory — Cold Spring Harbor, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Janowitz, Tobias — Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory
- Study coordinator: Janowitz, Tobias
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 below.