We have previously shown that cachexia in both mice and humans is associated with LMF production by the tumour and excretion in the urine (Todorov et al, 1998), and that LMF stimulated lipolysis like a classical lipolytic hormone through increases in intracellular cyclic AMP as a result of the stimulation of adenylate cyclase (Hirai et al, 1997). The gene discussed is ADCY1; the disease is neoplasm.