EACR The Systemic Consequences of Cancer: Cancer as a Whole-body Disease
Cancer is a systemic disease, where factors produced by tumours alter the function of peripheral tissues with profound consequences that we are only beginning to understand.
Tumours alter the interface with the immune system to evade immune surveillance. The function of the liver, muscle and adipose tissue is altered in cancer producing profound metabolic and inflammatory changes that affect the whole body. Brain function is also altered in cancer leading to loss of appetite and inducing a feeling of sickness. Collectively these systemic alterations produce the wasting syndrome known as cancer cachexia that leads to the death of most patients with advanced cancer.
Exploring the underlying mechanisms behind these systemic effects holds promise for the development of more effective treatments.