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# Cancer cachexia episodes coincide with disease progression and lower survival
- URL: https://www.coios.me/cancer-cachexia-episodes-coincide-with-disease-progression/
- Published: 2026-10-14T13:00:49.000Z
- Updated: 2026-10-14T17:41:49.000Z
- Description: In 52,236 patients with cancer, cachectic weight loss episodes occurred at times of disease progression, were linked to lower survival, and were more common in tumours with TP53 mutations.
- Author: Daniel Ryan
- Tags: Health today, Cancer, #peer-reviewed, #refines, #item, #source-2026-10

Routine clinical records and tumour genotyping for 52,236 patients with cancer were used to identify separate episodes of cachectic weight loss. The episodes occurred at times of disease progression and were linked to lower survival rates. They showed a consistent pattern across routine blood test results. Specific tumour genotypes, including TP53 mutations, were associated with a higher risk of cachexia, and models were trained to predict a patient's impending risk. The survival finding is an association from observational records, and does not establish that the weight loss itself shortens survival.

*Why it is interesting: Weight loss recorded incidentally in ordinary oncology records becomes a dated marker of disease progression and of survival.*

Source

[Nature Medicine, 13 October 2026](https://www.nature.com/articles/s41591-026-04720-z?ref=coios.me)

Type

Peer-reviewed article

Design

Retrospective cohort using routine clinical records and tumour genotyping, n=52,236 patients with cancer

Verdict

Refines prior evidence

Driver

[Cancer](https://www.coios.me/d-cancer/)