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. Author manuscript; available in PMC: 2018 Sep 1.
Published in final edited form as: Crit Rev Oncol Hematol. 2017 Jun 24;117:30–37. doi: 10.1016/j.critrevonc.2017.06.008

Table 2.

Stages of the Cancer Anorexia/Weight Loss Syndrome, or “Cachexia”

NORMAL PRECACHEXIA CACHEXIA REFRACTORY
CACHEXIA		 DEATH
Weight loss </= 5%; anorexia and metabolic changes Weight loss > 5% OR body mass index (BMI) < 20 and weight loss >2% OR sarcopenia and weight loss > 2%. Often reduced food intake/systemic inflammation Variable degree of cachexia. Cancer disease is both procatabolic and not responsive to anticancer treatment. Low performance score. < 3 months expected survival.

Modified from: Fearon K, Strasser F, Anker SD, Bosaeus I, Bruera E, Fainsinger RL, et al. Definition and classification of cancer cachexia: an international consensus. Lancet Oncol 2011; 12:489–95.