Treating nerve- and hormone-related weight loss and fatigue in people with cancer
Official title: PQ6: Therapeutic approaches for autonomic and neuroendocrine dysfunction in cancer cachexia
Funded at Oregon Health & Science University · NIH-11167682 · Data updated 2026-11-12
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.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Oregon Health & Science University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Portland, United States) |
| Project start | September 10, 2021 |
| Project end | August 31, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $432,774 |
| NIH project number | 5R01CA264133-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-11167682 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
People with cancer who are experiencing unintentional weight loss, poor appetite, severe fatigue, or other signs of cachexia would be the most relevant candidates.
✕Less likely to help
People without cancer or cancer patients who are not experiencing weight loss or signs of autonomic or neuroendocrine dysfunction are unlikely to get direct benefit from this project.
What this research studies
From a patient's view, the researchers want to know how cancer triggers inflammation in the brain and keeps the body's stress systems turned on, which can lead to appetite loss, muscle wasting, tiredness, and heart trouble. They will use lab and animal experiments and collaborations to map changes in the sympathetic nervous system and neuroendocrine signals during cachexia. The team will try approaches to reduce neuroinflammation and restore nervous-system and hormonal balance to protect appetite, muscle, and cardiovascular function. Successful lab results could point the way to clinical tests of new medicines or therapies for people with cancer-related wasting.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to treatments that help preserve appetite and muscle, reduce fatigue, and improve heart health and survival for people with cancer.
How similar studies have gone: Related lab and animal studies have shown promise for targeting neuroinflammation and sympathetic overactivity in cachexia, but there are currently no widely accepted medicines proven to fix these problems in patients.
Where this research is happening
-
Oregon Health & Science University
Portland, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Grossberg, Aaron — Oregon Health & Science University
- Study coordinator: Grossberg, Aaron
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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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.
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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.
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.