The cachectic patients in the study, beyond presenting severe weight loss in the previous 6 months, exhibited systemic inflammation and anemia (CRP >5.0 mg/L, IL-6 >4 pg/mL, Hb <12 g/dL), in accordance to that proposed by Evans et al. (19), but no alterations of circulating albumin levels. The gene discussed is ALB; the disease is anemia.