Role of Activin A and myostatin in human cancer cachexia.

Context: Cachexia is a multifactorial syndrome, characterized by the loss of skeletal muscle mass and not fully reversible by nutritional support. Recent animal observations suggest that production of Activin A (ActA) and Myostatin (Mstn) by some tumors might contribute to cancer cachexia.

Objective: Our goal was to investigate the role of ActA and Mstn in the development of the human cancer cachexia.