Role of growth differentiation factor 15 in cancer cachexia (Review)

Growth differentiation factor 15 (GDF15), a member of the transforming growth factor‑β family, is stress‑induced cytokine. Under normal circumstances, expression GDF15 low in most tissues. It highly expressed during tissue injury, inflammation, oxidative stress and cancer. has been established as biomarker patients with cancer, associated cancer cachexia (CC) poor survival. CC multifactorial metabolic disorder characterized by severe muscle adipose atrophy, loss appetite, anemia bone loss. Cachexia leads to reductions quality life tolerance anticancer therapy, results prognosis patients. Dysregulated levels have discovered animal models, where they found be involved anorexia weight Although studies suggested that mediates through its neuroreceptor, glial cell‑lineage neurotrophic family receptor α‑like, effects on potential regulatory mechanisms require further elucidation. In present review, characteristics roles molecular are elaborated. The targeting therapeutic strategy for also discussed.