Targeting Gut Barrier Dysfunction: A New Frontier in Cancer Cachexia Treatment

This project is a collaborative initiative that brings together experts from Maastricht University, Wageningen University & Research, Erasmus MC, and Eindhoven University of Technology, united by a shared mission to unravel the causes of weight loss in cancer patients and improve patient outcomes.

The project, “Identification and validation of targets to treat gut barrier dysfunction in human cancer cachexia,” aims to uncover why weight loss occurs in cancer patients. This translational study combines patient data, tissue samples, and advanced cell models. We investigate the role of inflammation and the impact of bacterial substances that may leak from the gut into the body, potentially triggering harmful inflammation. The intestinal barrier function of patients with and without cachexia is measured, and spatial transcriptomics is used to analyze intestinal biopsies from patients with colon or pancreatic cancer. Furthermore, organoids from both tumor and intestinal tissues are established to study how tumor-derived factors affect gut integrity. By identifying the molecular causes of impaired gut barrier function, we aim to develop new treatments that prevent cancer-related weight loss, ultimately improving both survival and quality of life for patients.