The induction of protein degradation by PIF has been shown to be completely attenuated by pretreatment with eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) (Lorite et al, 1997), which has been shown to downregulate expression of the key regulatory components of the ubiquitin–proteasome pathway in skeletal muscle of mice bearing the MAC16 tumour (Whitehouse et al, 2001a). Here, DCD is linked to neoplasm.