Excessive Weight and Muscle Loss Linked to Worse Symptoms in Advanced Cancer Patients Over 70

A new study presented at the 2026 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Annual Meeting found that having excessive weight and muscle loss, a condition called cancer cachexia, was linked to more severe symptoms in advanced cancer patients ages 70 and older. Learn more about the study and when to talk to your healthcare team about weight loss and appetite changes. 

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What is cancer cachexia?

Cancer cachexia is a condition that causes ongoing weight loss and muscle loss. It can happen even when someone is trying to eat enough food. It happens most often in people with advanced cancer.

Researchers are still trying to understand what causes cachexia in people with cancer. It seems to be caused by inflammation. This can lead to metabolism changes, insulin resistance, and hormonal changes. 

Cachexia can make people feel weaker and more tired. It may also affect how well they tolerate cancer treatment. 

In this study, cachexia meant losing at least 5% of body weight during the previous six months.

Researchers studied more than 700 patients 

The study included 706 people ages 70 and older with advanced cancer or lymphoma. All participants were preparing to start a new cancer treatment.

Researchers found that 42% of participants had cachexia before treatment began. That means nearly half were already dealing with significant weight loss.

Patients completed surveys about symptoms before treatment and again three months later. The surveys asked about:

• Fatigue
• Pain
• Loss of appetite
• Nausea
• Constipation
• Diarrhea
• Sleep problems
• Shortness of breath
• Difficulty concentrating
• Nerve symptoms such as numbness or tingling

People with cachexia reported more severe symptoms before treatment

Researchers found that more than half of the participants with cachexia reported severe symptoms before treatment. Among those without cachexia, about one-third reported symptoms at that level. 

People with cachexia were:

• Two to three times as likely to report severe loss of appetite
• More than twice as likely to report severe fatigue
• About twice as likely to report severe pain
• About twice as likely to report severe constipation

They were also more likely to report moderate or worse nausea and difficulty concentrating. 

Loss of appetite remained a challenge during treatment

Researchers also looked at symptoms three months after treatment started.

People who had cachexia before treatment were nearly twice as likely to develop severe loss of appetite during treatment. Loss of appetite was the only symptom that remained significantly linked to cachexia during the three-month follow-up period.

Talking with your healthcare team about cachexia

This study found that cancer cachexia was common in advanced cancer patients ages 70 and older. The findings suggest that unintentional weight loss and appetite changes should be discussed with a healthcare team as early as possible. 

Researchers noted that new treatments designed to improve appetite and treat cachexia are being studied in phase III clinical trials. Phase III trials compare a new treatment with the current standard treatment in a large group of patients.

More research is needed to learn when these treatments may help the most and which patients are most likely to benefit. This research may help guide future studies on appetite loss and other symptoms linked to cachexia in people receiving cancer treatment.

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Source:

• Cancer cachexia and symptomatic toxicity among 706 older adults with advanced cancer receiving treatment: A URCC NCORP nationwide study
• Cancer Cachexia