Unraveling Chemotherapy Resistance: Linking Tumor Metabolism, Cachexia, and Organoid InnovationTargeting Gut Barrier Dysfunction: A New Frontier in Cancer Cachexia Treatment

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 will combine patient data, tissue samples, and advanced cell models. We will investigate the role of inflammation and the impact of bacterial substances that may leak from the gut into the body, potentially triggering harmful inflammation. We will measure intestinal barrier function in patients with and without cachexia, and use spatial transcriptomics to analyze intestinal biopsies from patients with colon or pancreatic cancer. Furthermore, organoids from both tumor and intestinal tissues will be established to study how tumor-derived factors affect gut integrity. By identifying the molecular causes of impaired gut barrier function, the team aims to develop new treatments that prevent cancer-related weight loss, ultimately improving both survival and quality of life for patients.