Omics and cachexia.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: The purpose of this review is to recapture recent advances in cachexia-related diseases, mainly cancer cachexia, and treatment using genomic, transcriptomics, proteomic, and metabolomics-related techniques.

RECENT FINDINGS: From recent studies in the cancer cachexia field it is clear that the tumor has a direct effect on distant organs via its secretome. The affected pathways on the other hand were largely known from earlier studies with changes in energy-related pathways (mainly lipid metabolism) and the protein degradation pathways. Treatment-oriented studies use mostly rodent models and in-vivo cultures and it is too early for human studies.

SUMMARY: Omics tools are powerful if used in the right way. Omics research has identified the tumor as an important player in cancer cachexia and some interesting novel treatments have been found in experimental models.