In skeletal muscle and adipose tissues, cytokines and other factors (i.e., tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFα), interleukin 6 (IL6), interleukin 1 beta (IL1β), myostatin, activin, parathyroid hormone-related protein (PTHrP)) derived by the tumor, the host immune system, or mesenchymal tissues trigger an intracellular signaling cascade, which translates into transcriptional changes in the gene-expression programs, eliciting catabolic responses1. The gene discussed is PTHLH; the disease is neoplasm.