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Metabolism under pressure: New approaches to cancer cachexia explored!
DZG interdisciplinary projects research metabolic mechanisms to combat diseases such as cancer and diabetes.
Metabolism under pressure: New approaches to cancer cachexia explored!
On March 9, 2025, the German Centers for Health Research (DZG) announced significant advances in research into metabolic mechanisms that are directly related to serious diseases. A current one Press release from the German Center for Infection Research e.V. of February 27, 2025 highlights that changes in nutrition and the environment pose new challenges to human metabolism. These challenges are not only biological but also clinical, as dysregulation of interorgan communication can lead to diseases such as obesity, diabetes and cancer.
Two interdisciplinary projects aim to develop innovative therapeutic approaches. These projects are part of the new Inter-Organ Metabolomics innovation fund, which aims to pool expertise across disciplines. One of the main initiatives investigates the exchange of metabolic products between organs and their influence on biological processes. The DZG has approved funding of up to 766,000 euros for the first and 796,000 euros for the second project for the years 2025 and 2026.
Cachexia research projects
The first project, entitled “Metabolite-mediated epigenetic changes in immune cells trigger a coordinated tissue response in cachexia,” is led by Dr. Maria Rohm from the German Center for Diabetes Research (DZD). The aim is to find out which metabolic products influence the immune system and can increase muscle loss. A particular focus is on cachexia, a condition typically associated with cancer and characterized by negative protein and energy balance and activation of the systemic inflammatory response, as well a study of cancer cachexia shows.
The second project entitled “Specifically influencing the metabolic interorgan communication of inflammation-related aging” is led by Prof. Michael Rieger from the University Hospital Frankfurt. The influence of genetic mutations on inflammatory processes and metabolic changes is examined. The findings from these projects could provide new approaches for the diagnosis and treatment of common diseases.
Research methods and results
A key component of the research projects is spatial metabolomics, which focuses on the analysis of tissues to better understand the molecular interactions between organs. Previous studies have mostly relied on mouse models or human body fluids. The DZG initiatives differ in their approach in that they collect more specific data from liver, skeletal muscle, adipose tissue and serum from cachectic and control patients to perform organ-specific comparisons.
The results of the studies already show clear changes in the metabolic pathways in cachexia patients. In particular, significant differences in metabolic activity were found between visceral and subcutaneous adipose tissue as well as the liver compared to muscle tissue. These clinically relevant findings support the view that cachexia is a multi-organ syndrome with distinct metabolic changes that urgently requires further research.
Overall, the DZG and the scientists involved aim to unravel the complex communication between organs and their influence on metabolism. Such interdisciplinary approaches are crucial for the development of future treatment strategies in the fight against serious chronic diseases such as cancer, diabetes and obesity. Further information on these and other projects can also be found in the reports from Helmholtz Munich.