biostudies-literatureUnknownLiang YNCI NIH HHSCancer cachexia is characterized by involuntary weight loss and wasting of fat and muscle tissues, with diminished food intake due to anorexia commonly cited as a cause. However, to what extent reduced food intake drives these symptoms and other cachexia phenotypes, such as fatigue, remains generally unclear in preclinical models and patient populations. Here we demonstrate the critical need to address this question in cancer cachexia research. Using the colon carcinoma 26 (C26) mouse model, we assessed the role of food intake in key cachexia phenotypes. We found that reduced food intake was the predominant driver of body weight loss and wasting of fat and muscle, suggesting no additional causal mechanisms. In contrast, food intake reduction did not affect physical performance, indicating bioRxiv : the preprint server for biology2025.04.24.650538https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC12803052biostudies-literatureSeparating food intake-dependent and -independent effects in cancer cachexia.PMC12803052OT2 CA278654Hui SLiang YKwon YYfalseSeparating food intake-dependent and -independent effects in cancer cachexia.Cancer cachexia is characterized by involuntary weight loss and wasting of fat and muscle tissues, with diminished food intake due to anorexia commonly cited as a cause. However, to what extent reduced food intake drives these symptoms and other cachexia phenotypes, such as fatigue, remains generally unclear in preclinical models and patient populations. Here we demonstrate the critical need to address this question in cancer cachexia research. Using the colon carcinoma 26 (C26) mouse model, we assessed the role of food intake in key cachexia phenotypes. We found that reduced food intake was the predominant driver of body weight loss and wasting of fat and muscle, suggesting no additional causal mechanisms. In contrast, food intake reduction did not affect physical performance, indicating 2026-01-01T00:00:00Z2026 Jan2026-06-04T03:19:49.693Z2026-06-04T03:12:37.115ZS-EPMC128030524154261310.1101/2025.04.24.650538