The deadline to submit an abstract for short talk and poster presentation consideration has passed. For any questions or issues, please email info@keystonesymposia.org.

Cachexia is a multifactorial and multi-organ syndrome that is one of the main causes of morbidity and mortality in late stages of chronic conditions such as cancer, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), heart failure, and chronic kidney disease (CKD). As such, cachexia is often referred to as “a disease within a disease”. Cachexia is a wasting syndrome characterized by signs and symptoms that may include weight loss, anorexia, decreased muscle strength, increased fatigue, and abnormal biochemistry and increase of inflammatory markers. These changes have been associated with increased morbidity and mortality as well as reduced quality of life.  Furthermore, as cachexia has been estimated to affect 0.5-1% of the population, it poses a substantial health burden and has far reaching impact on patients’ daily lives.  Given the complexity of cachexia being a disease within a disease, the field is challenged with limited mechanistic understanding.  As scientists increasingly study cachexia as a distinct disorder, and not just symptoms of late-stage illness, new advancements are being made uncovering how inflammation and metabolic imbalances drive its pathology.  

This symposium aims to bring together a team of researchers from academia and industry to:

1) provide an overview of the definition of cachexia, with a focus on cancer cachexia;

2) discuss pathways and mechanisms that are altered in cachectic states;

3) highlight recent progress in the discovery of novel interventions for the treatment of cachexia.  
         
At the conclusion of this symposium, participants will become knowledgeable in:
• Cachexia as a disease within chronic diseases
• Altered inflammatory and metabolic pathways as contributing factors underlying cachexia
• Potential therapeutic nodes of intervention to ameliorate cachexia

Co-Organizer, and Professor of Cell, Developmental and Cancer Biology at Oregon Health & Science University, Teresa Zimmers, talks about why you should attend this meeting in the video below: