Circulating GDF15 levels correlate with weight loss81 and poor survival82 in cancer patients and are increased early after tumor injection in models of cancer cachexia, in which GDF15 is implicated in MuRF-1 activation and atrophy83 as well as in inducing anorexia and emesis, further worsening the negative energy balance84,85. Here, GDF15 is linked to neoplasm.