Sapienza University researchers identify early fat loss signals in cancer patients

Researchers from Sapienza University of Rome have discovered that cancer begins consuming adipose tissue much earlier than visible weight loss suggests. Presented at the IX National Congress of SINuC in Parma, the study indicates that fat tissue is a target of the disease even in newly diagnosed patients before any therapy has begun.

By analyzing subcutaneous fat samples from patients with stomach, pancreatic, or colorectal cancers, the team found higher expression of fat-demolishing enzymes, specifically ATGL and HSL, compared to patients with benign conditions. This metabolic shift was observed even in patients who did not yet meet the clinical criteria for cachexia, the involuntary loss of muscle and fat that worsens prognosis and treatment tolerance.

Professor Alessio Molfino noted that tumors affect adipose tissue and appetite very early, often before clinicians or patients notice physical changes. Consequently, the research team advocates for nutritional assessments to begin on the day of diagnosis rather than waiting for visible weight loss to occur.