Cancer sarcopenia or muscle wasting (Q84052)

Cancer cachexia is a multifactorial paraneoplastic syndrome characterised by anorexia, body weight loss, loss of adipose tissue and skeletal muscle, accounting for at least 20% of deaths in neoplastic patients . Often fatigue and general indicators of malignancy as asthenia, anorexia and anaemia are associated. The mechanisms remain unclear and may not be homogenous. Despite marked volume loss of muscle, muscle force usually remains preserved. The extent of cancer cachexia might be a prognostic factor.