Understanding cancer cachexia to improve quality of life and treatment for cancer patients
Official title: CANCAN - Harvard
Funded at Harvard Medical School · NIH-11540177 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A Cancer cachexia research project from Harvard Medical School is exploring what causes extreme weight and muscle loss in cancer patients and how to stop it.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Harvard Medical School NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project start | June 22, 2022 |
| Project end | May 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $473,923 |
| NIH project number | 3OT2CA278689-01S3 |
| Project ID | NIH-11540177 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults with cancer who are at risk of or experiencing cancer cachexia and related metabolic wasting.
✕Less likely to help
Patients without cancer cachexia or with advanced, unrelated conditions may not benefit from this specific research.
What this research studies
This project brings together doctors and scientists from multiple countries to study why some cancer patients lose muscle and fat and feel very weak. It uses advanced techniques to examine how tumors affect the body’s metabolism and appetite, and how these signals lead to wasting and poor treatment outcomes. The goal is to identify new ways to prevent or treat cachexia so patients can tolerate therapy, stay stronger, and live longer. The researchers emphasize high-quality discovery science and detailed clinical phenotyping to connect basic findings to real patient needs.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the work could lead to new therapies that prevent or reduce cachexia, helping patients maintain weight, strength, and response to cancer treatment.
How similar studies have gone: Prior studies have advanced understanding of muscle and fat loss in cancer, but there is a need for identifying upstream mediators and effective therapies.
Where this research is happening
-
Harvard Medical School
Boston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Perrimon, Norbert — Harvard Medical School
- Study coordinator: Perrimon, Norbert
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.