923-A Tumor-Driven Collapse of Systemic Homeostasis

Paper Talk · May 8, 2026 · 19m

This paper outlines a systemic framework for understanding cancer cachexia, defining it as a tumor-driven collapse of whole-body homeostasis rather than a simple byproduct of malnutrition. It explains how malignancies function as signaling hubs, releasing a complex secretome of cytokines and vesicles that reprogram the host’s metabolic, immune, and neuroendocrine systems. This process triggers a maladaptive cascade across multiple organs, leading to profound skeletal muscle wasting, adipose tissue loss, and chronic inflammation. Consequently, patients suffer from functional decline, reduced…