Plasma concentrations of GDF15 appear to be regulated by many stimuli that initiate cell stress and as part of a wide variety of disease processes including cancer, cardiovascular disease, renal failure, chronic liver disease, anorexia nervosa, and autoimmune diseases, but also physiological changes such as aging, pregnancy, and physical activity (Hüllwegen et al., 2025; Kamper et al., 2024; Plomgaard et al., 2022; Tsai et al., 2018; Wallentin et al., 2013). Here, GDF15 is linked to cancer.