Cancer cachexia, first defined in 1858, causes significant weight loss in cancer patients and impacts treatment outcomes. Ponsegromab, an antibody against growth differentiation factor 15, reduces cachexia symptoms. In ALK fusion–positive non–small cell lung cancer, lorlatinib and alectinib demonstrate improved survival and tolerability, though both are associated with weight gain, including sarcopenic abdominal obesity, which varies in impact based on baseline BMI.
A new study has revealed alarming links between air pollution, particularly fine particulate matter (PM2.5), and an increased risk of death from various cancers, including breast, liver, and pancreatic cancer. The study, conducted with 66,280 Hong Kong residents aged 65 and older, found that for every 10 µg/m³ increase in PM2.5 exposure, the risk of dying from any cancer rose by 22%. Risks for specific cancers were even higher, including a 42% rise for upper digestive tract cancers, 35% for liver and pancreatic cancers, 80% for breast cancer in women, and 36% for lung cancer. The study suggests that PM2.5 may impair DNA repair, alter immune responses, and contribute to inflammation that fuels tumor growth. These findings underline the urgent need to address air pollution as a significant public health issue, with researchers calling for cleaner air and more studies to confirm these risks in other regions.