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Cancers
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Cancer Induced Organ Dysfunctions (Cachexia)
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Cancer Induced Organ Dysfunctions (Cachexia)

A special issue of Cancers (ISSN 2072-6694). This special issue belongs to the section "Molecular Cancer Biology".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 20 March 2026 | Viewed by 944

Special Issue Editors

Prof. Dr. Sham S. Kakar

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Physiology, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, Brown Cancer Center, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY 40202, USA
Interests: cancer-induced cachexia; ovarian cancer; cancer stem cells; targeting of cancer and cancer stem cells; signaling pathways in tumorigenesis
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Sarama Saha

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Biochemistry, All India Institute of Medical Science (AIIMS), Rishikesh 174001, Uttarakhand, India
Interests: diabetes mellitus related complications; ovarian disorders; cell signaling pathways involved in metabolic and malignant disorders

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Cancer cachexia is a multifactorial syndrome and is associated with the loss of body weight and organ dysfunctions in cancer patients. It varies from 42% to 80%, depending on the oncological status, and is directly responsible for approximately 30% of deaths in cancer patients. It is a multi-organ and complex syndrome with a largely unknown etiology. Metabolic disorders and inflammation are the hallmarks of cancer cachexia. Several mechanisms and signaling pathways have been reported leading to the development of cachexia; however, a definitive orchestrating mechanism remains elusive. Furthermore, no FDA-approved therapeutic regimen for cancer-induced cachexia (dysfunction) is currently available.

This Special Issue is focused on understanding the mechanisms of cancer-induced organ dysfunctions (cachexia) and the therapeutic approach in the field of cachexia, including basic, preclinical and clinical studies, and the application of current technologies for the diagnosis of cachexia.

Prof. Dr. Sham S. Kakar
Dr. Sarama Saha
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Cancers is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2900 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • cancer
  • cachexia
  • organ dysfunction
  • cancer-induced cachexia
  • cancer-induced organ dysfunction
  • muscle wasting

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Published Papers (1 paper)

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Review

30 pages, 7258 KB  
Review
Cancer-Induced Cardiac Dysfunction: Mechanisms, Diagnostics, and Emerging Therapeutics in the Era of Onco-Cardiology
by Sarama Saha, Praveen K. Singh, Partha Roy, Vasa Vemuri, Mariusz Z. Ratajczak, Mahavir Singh and Sham S. Kakar
Cancers 2025, 17(19), 3225; https://doi.org/10.3390/cancers17193225 - 3 Oct 2025
Viewed by 443
Abstract
Cancer-induced cardiac dysfunction has become a major clinical challenge as advances in cancer therapies continue to extend patient survival. Once regarded as a secondary concern, cardiotoxicity is now recognized as a leading contributor to morbidity and mortality among cancer patients and survivors. Its [...] Read more.
Cancer-induced cardiac dysfunction has become a major clinical challenge as advances in cancer therapies continue to extend patient survival. Once regarded as a secondary concern, cardiotoxicity is now recognized as a leading contributor to morbidity and mortality among cancer patients and survivors. Its pathophysiology is multifactorial, involving systemic inflammation (e.g., TNF-α, IL-6), oxidative stress driven by reactive oxygen species (ROS), neurohormonal imbalances (e.g., angiotensin II, endothelin-1), and metabolic disturbances. These mechanisms collectively promote cardiomyocyte apoptosis, atrophy, mitochondrial dysfunction, and impaired cardiac output. Cardiac complications may arise directly from cancer itself or as adverse effects of oncologic therapies such as anthracyclines, trastuzumab, and immune checkpoint inhibitors. These agents have been linked to heart failure (HF), systolic dysfunction, and cardiac atrophy, often progressing insidiously and underscoring the importance of early detection and careful monitoring. Current preventive and therapeutic strategies include pharmacological interventions such as ACE inhibitors, beta-blockers, statins, dexrazoxane, and endothelin receptor antagonists like atrasentan. Emerging compounds, particularly Withaferin A (WFA), have shown potential through their anti-inflammatory and cardiac protective properties. In addition, antioxidants and lifestyle modifications may provide supplementary cardioprotective benefits, while interventional cardiology procedures are increasingly considered in selected patients. Despite encouraging progress, standardized treatment protocols and robust long-term outcome data remain limited. Given the heterogeneity of cancer types and cardiovascular responses, a personalized and multidisciplinary approach is essential. Continued research and close collaboration between oncologists, cardiologists, and basic scientists will be the key to advancing care, reducing treatment-related morbidity, and ensuring that improvements in cancer survival are matched by preservation of cardiovascular health. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Cancer Induced Organ Dysfunctions (Cachexia))
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