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Keystone Symposia: Cachexia and Wasting Syndrome in Cancer and Chronic Diseases

May 5 - May 7

Cachexia is a multifactorial and multi-organ syndrome that is one of the main causes of morbidity and mortality in late stages of chronic conditions such as cancer, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), heart failure, and chronic kidney disease (CKD). As such, cachexia is often referred to as “a disease within a disease”. Cachexia is a wasting syndrome characterized by signs and symptoms that may include weight loss, anorexia, decreased muscle strength, increased fatigue, and abnormal biochemistry and increase of inflammatory markers. These changes have been associated with increased morbidity and mortality as well as reduced quality of life.  Furthermore, as cachexia has been estimated to affect 0.5-1% of the population, it poses a substantial health burden and has far reaching impact on patients’ daily lives.  Given the complexity of cachexia being a disease within a disease, the field is challenged with limited mechanistic understanding.  As scientists increasingly study cachexia as a distinct disorder, and not just symptoms of late-stage illness, new advancements are being made uncovering how inflammation and metabolic imbalances drive its pathology.

Venue

Buck Institute for Research on Aging
8001 Redwood Blvd
Novato, California 94945
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