This suggests the need for a better understanding of the pathogenesis of cachexia that can serve both as a prognostic indicator and as a therapeutic target for reversing weight loss.14 In humans, however, several clinical trials are ongoing to modulate plasma cytokines to revert cancer cachexia using NGM120 agent and GDF15 with induction chemotherapy.14, 33(Table 1). This evidence concerns the gene GDF15 and cancer.