Malnutrition in patients with cancer was speculated to be associated with proinflammatory cytokines (IL-1α, IL-1β, IL-6) expressed by tumor tissue, immune and stroma cells, TNFα, and INFγ, along with other mediators affecting food intake and energy expenditure, thereby leading to the clinical syndrome of cancer cachexia. The gene discussed is IL1B; the disease is nutritional deficiency disease.