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Volume 26
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10.3390/ijms262311626
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This is an early access version, the complete PDF, HTML, and XML versions will be available soon.
Review

Cancer-Associated Cachexia in the Era of Obesity

by
Joyce Cristina Ferreira de Resende
1,
Márcia Fábia Andrade
1,
Fabiana Amaral Ferreira
1,
José Pinhata Otoch
1,
Lívia Clemente Motta-Teixeira
1,2 and
Marilia Seelaender
1,*
1
Cancer Metabolism Research Group, Laboratory of Experimental Surgery (LIM 26), Department of Surgery, Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo, HC-FMUSP, São Paulo 01246-903, Brazil
2
Laboratory of Neuroplasticity and Behaviour, Department of Physiological Sciences, Santa Casa de São Paulo School of Medical Sciences, São Paulo 01224-001, Brazil
*
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2025, 26(23), 11626; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms262311626
Submission received: 9 May 2025 / Revised: 17 June 2025 / Accepted: 26 November 2025 / Published: 30 November 2025
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Research on Obesity and Cancer)
Versions Notes

Abstract

Obesity and cancer cachexia represent opposite ends of the body mass index (BMI) spectrum. However, despite this apparent dichotomy, both conditions share critical metabolic alterations, primarily driven by inflammation, metabolic alterations and changes in adipose tissue biology. Obesity is characterised by chronic low-grade inflammation and increased fat storage, while cancer cachexia involves severe weight loss, muscle atrophy, and lipolysis, with inflammation playing a central role in both conditions. Inflammatory cytokines such as TNF-α and IL-6 are increased in both scenarios, contributing to metabolic dysregulation and systemic energy imbalance. This review explores the shared inflammatory and metabolic pathways underlying obesity and cancer cachexia, with particular regard to the role of white adipose tissue (WAT). Moreover, we intend to highlight the importance of understanding the common mechanisms for the development of more effective therapeutic strategies for managing these complex metabolic disorders.
Keywords: cancer; cachexia; obesity; inflammation; adipose tissue cancer; cachexia; obesity; inflammation; adipose tissue

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MDPI and ACS Style

de Resende, J.C.F.; Andrade, M.F.; Ferreira, F.A.; Otoch, J.P.; Motta-Teixeira, L.C.; Seelaender, M. Cancer-Associated Cachexia in the Era of Obesity. Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2025, 26, 11626. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms262311626

AMA Style

de Resende JCF, Andrade MF, Ferreira FA, Otoch JP, Motta-Teixeira LC, Seelaender M. Cancer-Associated Cachexia in the Era of Obesity. International Journal of Molecular Sciences. 2025; 26(23):11626. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms262311626

Chicago/Turabian Style

de Resende, Joyce Cristina Ferreira, Márcia Fábia Andrade, Fabiana Amaral Ferreira, José Pinhata Otoch, Lívia Clemente Motta-Teixeira, and Marilia Seelaender. 2025. "Cancer-Associated Cachexia in the Era of Obesity" International Journal of Molecular Sciences 26, no. 23: 11626. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms262311626

APA Style

de Resende, J. C. F., Andrade, M. F., Ferreira, F. A., Otoch, J. P., Motta-Teixeira, L. C., & Seelaender, M. (2025). Cancer-Associated Cachexia in the Era of Obesity. International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 26(23), 11626. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms262311626

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