# The Role of Platelets in Cancer Cachexia

> **NIH NIH R21** · UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA AT COLUMBIA · 2024 · $204,391

## Abstract

SUMMARY
Cancer cachexia is a complex metabolic syndrome characterized by muscle wasting, weight loss, and decreased
quality of life. Patients with cancer cachexia experience impaired muscle function, reduced treatment tolerance,
and lower survival rates. Despite progress in understanding the condition, its underlying mechanism and high
mortality rate remain unclear. The proposed research aims to investigate the role of platelets in cancer cachexia
development, as they are involved in inflammation and tissue wasting. Preliminary data suggest an association
between elevated platelet counts and the pre-cachexia stage and platelet activation and severe/refractory
cachexia. The proposed study hypothesizes that platelets play a crucial role in the recruitment of immune cells
and the release of pro-cachectic factors, ultimately leading to muscle loss. The research will test the hypothesis
through two aims: depleting platelets at pre-cachectic stages to assess the impact on inflammation and muscle
wasting and examining the effects of activated platelets on muscle wasting in cancer and chemotherapy-induced
cachexia. The project aims to provide novel insights and potential approaches by targeting platelets in cancer
cachexia.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10868009
- **Project number:** 1R21CA289464-01
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA AT COLUMBIA
- **Principal Investigator:** Kandy T Velazquez
- **Activity code:** R21 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $204,391
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2024-03-05 → 2026-02-28

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10868009

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10868009, The Role of Platelets in Cancer Cachexia (1R21CA289464-01). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-24 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10868009. Licensed CC0.

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