A comprehensive literature search was carried out on the websites of Pubmed Central (), National Library of Medicine () and various other net resources.
Data from observational studies shows that various cytokines (TNF-伪, IL-6 and IL-1) are associated with metabolic changes resulting in cachexia in cancer patients. These cytokines may mimic the action of various neuropeptides resulting in anorexia, various metabolic effects resulting from enhanced catabolic state and weight loss.
There is a need to understand and explore the role of various neuropeptides and cytokines in the pathophysiology of cancer-anorexia syndrome so that therapeutic measures may be designed for effective palliative care.