In addition, for cachexia due to cancer, it is possible to use a combination of agents to counteract anorexia and malnutrition, long-term activation of systemic inflammation, and physical inactivity (i.e., progestational agents, nutritional counseling, eicosapentaenoic (EPA)-enriched nutritional supplements, artificial nutrition, L-carnitine, thalidomide, cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) inhibitors, and daily exercise). The gene discussed is PTGS2; the disease is malnutrition.