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Therapies for Cancer Cachexia

CE / CME

Current, Novel and Emerging Therapies on the Horizon for Cancer Cachexia

Physician Assistants/Physician Associates: 0.25 AAPA Category 1 CME credit

Pharmacists: 0.25 contact hour (0.025 CEUs)

Physicians: maximum of 0.25 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit

Nurse Practitioners/Nurses: 0.25 Nursing contact hour

European Learners: 0.25 EBAC® CE Credit

Released: March 24, 2026

Expiration: September 23, 2026

Activity

Progress
1 2 3
Course Completed

References

  1. Yeom E, Yu K. Understanding the molecular basis of anorexia and tissue wasting in cancer cachexia. Exp Mol Med. 2022;54:426-432.
  2. National Comprehensive Cancer Network. Clinical practice guidelines in oncology: Palliative care. v.1.2026. nccn.org. Accessed March 20, 2026.
  3. Roeland EJ, Bohlke K, Baracos VE, et al. Management of cancer cachexia: ASCO guideline. J Clin Oncol. 2020;38:2438-2453.
  4. Roeland EJ, Bohlke K, Baracos VE, et al. Cancer cachexia: ASCO guideline rapid recommendation update. J Clin Oncol. 2023;41:4178-4179.
  5. Olanzapine [prescribing information]. Indianapolis, IN: Eli Lilly and Company; 1996.
  6. Arends J, Strasser F, Gonella S, et al. Cancer cachexia in adult patients: ESMO clinical practice guidelines. ESMO Open. 2021;6:100092.
  7. Sandhya L, Sreenivasan ND, Goenka L, et al. Randomized double-blind placebo-controlled study of olanzapine for chemotherapy-related anorexia in patients with locally advanced or metastatic gastric, hepatopancreaticobiliary, and lung cancer. J Clin Oncol. 2023;41:2617-2627.
  8. Solheim TS, Laird BJA, Balstad TR, et al. Cancer cachexia: rationale for the MENAC (Multimodal—Exercise, Nutrition and Anti-inflammatory medication for Cachexia) trial. BMJ Support Palliat Care. 2018;8:258-265.
  9. Solheim TS, Laird BJA, Balstad TR, et al. Results from a randomised, open-label trial of a multimodal intervention (exercise, nutrition and anti-inflammatory medication) plus standard care versus standard care alone to attenuate cachexia in patients with advanced cancer undergoing chemotherapy. Presented at: 2024 American Society of Clinical Oncology Annual Conference. May 31-June 4, 2024. Abstract LBA12007.
  10. Berriel Diaz M, Rohm M, Herzig S. Cancer cachexia: multilevel metabolic dysfunction. Nat Metab. 2024;6:2222-2245.
  11. Koh K, Scott R, Cespedes Feliciano EM, et al. Cancer-associated cachexia: bridging clinical findings with mechanistic insights in human studies. Cancer Discov. 2025;15:1543-1568.
  12. Wakabayashi H, Arai H, Inui A. Anamorelin in Japanese patients with cancer cachexia: an update. Curr Opin Support Palliat Care. 2023;17:162-167.
  13. Crawford J, Prado CMM, Johnston MA, et al. Study design and rationale for the phase 3 clinical development program of enobosarm, a selective androgen receptor modulator, for the prevention and treatment of muscle wasting in cancer patients (POWER Trials). Curr Oncol Rep. 2016;18:37.
  14. Srinath R, and Dobs A. Enobosarm (GTx-024, S-22): a potential treatment for cachexia. Future Oncol. 2014;10:187-194.
  15. Crawford J, Johnston MA, Taylor RP, et al. Enobosarm and lean body mass in patients with non-small cell lung cancer. Presented at: 2014 American Society of Clinical Oncology Annual Conference. May 30-June 3, 2014. Abstract 9618.
  16. Crawford J, Johnston MA, Taylor RP, et al. Enobosarm and lean body mass in patients with non-small cell lung cancer. J Clin Oncol. 2014; 32:9618.
  17. Aellig WH. Pindolol--a beta-adrenoceptor blocking drug with partial agonist activity: clinical pharmacological considerations. Br J Clin Pharmacol. 1982;13(Suppl 2):187S-192S.
  18. Groarke JD, Crawford J, Collins SM, et al. Ponsegromab for the treatment of cancer cachexia. N Engl J Med. 2024;391:2291-2303.
  19. Groarke JD, Crawford J, Collins SM, et al. Phase 2 study of the efficacy and safety of ponsegromab in patients with cancer cachexia: PROACC‐1 study design. J Cachexia Sarcopenia Muscle. 2024;15:1054-1061.
  20. Katakami N, Uchino J, Yokoyama T, et al. Anamorelin (ONO‐7643) for the treatment of patients with non‐small cell lung cancer and cachexia: results from a randomized, double‐blind, placebo‐controlled, multicenter study of Japanese patients (ONO‐7643‐04). Cancer 2018;124:606-616. 
  21. Hamauchi S, Furuse J, Takano T, et al. A multicenter, open‐label, single‐arm study of anamorelin (ONO‐7643) in advanced gastrointestinal cancer patients with cancer cachexia. Cancer 2019;125:4294-4302. 
  22. Takayama K, Katakami N, Yokoyama T, et al. Anamorelin (ONO-7643) in Japanese patients with non-small cell lung cancer and cachexia: results of a randomized phase 2 trial. Support Care Cancer. 2016;24:3495-3505.
  23. Temel JS, Abernethy AP, Currow DC, et al. Anamorelin in patients with non-small-cell lung cancer and cachexia (ROMANA 1 and ROMANA 2): results from two randomised, double-blind, phase 3 trials. Lancet Oncol. 2016;17:519-531.
  24. Wakabayashi H, Arai H, Inui A. The regulatory approval of anamorelin for treatment of cachexia in patients with non‐small cell lung cancer, gastric cancer, pancreatic cancer, and colorectal cancer in Japan: facts and numbers. J Cachexia Sarcopenia Muscle. 2021;12:14-16.
  25. Coats AJS, Ho GF, Prabhash K, et al. Espindolol for the treatment and prevention of cachexia in patients with stage III/IV non-small cell lung cancer or colorectal cancer: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, international multicentre phase II study (the ACT-ONE trial). J Cachexia Sarcopenia Muscle. 2016;7:355-365.
  26. Zhu X, Callahan MF, Gruber KA, et al. Melanocortin-4 receptor antagonist TCMCB07 ameliorates cancer- and chronic kidney disease-associated cachexia. J Clin Invest. 2020;130:4921-4934.
  27. Fearon K, Strasser F, Anker SD, et al. Definition and classification of cancer cachexia: an international consensus. Lancet Oncol. 2011;12:489-495.
  28. Lerner L, Hayes TG, Tao N, et al. Plasma growth differentiation factor 15 is associated with weight loss and mortality in cancer patients. J Cachexia Sarcopenia Muscle. 2015;6:317-324.
  29. Lerner L, Tao J, Liu Q, et al. MAP3K11/GDF15 axis is a critical driver of cancer cachexia. J Cachexia Sarcopenia Muscle. 2016;7:467-82.
  30. Temel JS, Greer JA, Muzikansky A, et al. Early palliative care for patients with metastatic non-small-cell lung cancer. New Engl J Med. 2010;363:733-742.
  31. Ahmed DS, Isnard S, Lin J, et al. GDF15/GFRAL pathway as a metabolic signature for cachexia in patients with cancer. J Cancer. 2021;12:1125-1132.
  32. Breit SN, Brown DA, Tsai VWW. The GDF15-GFRAL pathway in health and metabolic disease: friend or foe? Ann Rev Physiol. 2021;83:127-151.
  33. Crawford J, Calle RA, Collins SM, et al. A phase Ib first-in-patient study assessing the safety, tolerability, pharmacokinetics, and pharmacodynamics of ponsegromab in participants with cancer and cachexia. Clin Cancer Res. 2024;30:489-497.
  34. Kim-Muller JY, Song L, LaCarubba Paulhus B, et al. GDF15 neutralization restores muscle function and physical performance in a mouse model of cancer cachexia. Cell Rep. 2023;42:111947.
  35. Lee BY, Jeong J, Jung I, et al. GDNF family receptor alpha-like antagonist antibody alleviates chemotherapy-induced cachexia in melanoma-bearing mice. J Cachexia Sarcopenia Muscle 2023;14:1441-53.
  36. Crawford J, Groarke J, Collins S, et al. Efficacy and safety of ponsegromab in patients with cancer-associated cachexia: Results from the open-label extension of a randomized, placebo-controlled, phase II study. Ann Oncol. 2025;36:S1644.

Disclosure

Artificial intelligence (AI) tools were used to assist in the editorial development of this educational material. Specifically, ChatGPT (OpenAI; model GPT-5.3) was used to support language editing, organization of transcript content, and formatting in accordance with the program style guide.

The AI tool was used solely to assist with editorial refinement (eg, grammar, clarity, and structure) and did not generate new clinical recommendations, interpretations of data, or independent scientific content.

All AI-assisted edits were reviewed, verified, and approved by human editors and the program faculty, who retain full responsibility for the scientific accuracy, balance, and integrity of the final educational content. The material was developed in accordance with the ACCME Standards for Integrity and Independence in Accredited Continuing Education.