Cancer-Associated Cachexia (CAC), or the loss of skeletal muscle, cardiac, and fat tissue in patients with solid tumors, significantly impedes clinical therapy and impairs patients’ quality of life. Though a significant reduction was initially seen in GDF15 and PF groups, final mean body weight did not differ across groups. Gastrocnemius muscle and white adipose mass were significantly lower in the GDF15, but not PF, groups compared to Sham. Future experiments will seek to identify patterns of gene activation and metabolic dysfunction unique to GDF15-induced cardiac wasting which may help elucidate this tissue-specific difference.
