Cancer cachexia: what is known about its etiology and what should be the current treatment approach?

Cancer cachexia, defined as involuntary weight loss and tissue wasting due to cancer, negatively influences physical condition, quality of life and prognosis. Well known causes, such as ileus or hypercalcemia, do not suffice to explain the entire phenomenon. Metabolic changes induced by the tumor and/or host are supposed to play a deciding role. In the present review current insights into the etiology and treatment are discussed.