Researchers at Helmholtz Munich, the Heidelberg Faculty of Medicine at Heidelberg University, the German Center for Diabetes Research (DZD) and the Technical University of Munich (TUM), have identified a previously unknown mechanism that can drive cancer cachexia – a wasting process in the body that primarily affects muscle and fat tissue. A central role is played by a protein secreted by tumors, known as ADAMTSL4: It locally activates the TGF-β signaling pathway in muscle and fat tissue, thereby triggering a catabolic program. The findings identify ADAMTSL4 as a potential new target for future therapies against cancer cachexia.