REVIEW article
Front. Endocrinol.
Sec. Cancer Endocrinology
This article is part of the Research TopicExploring Endocrine and Nutritional Metabolism's Role in Tumor Development and ProgressionView all 5 articles
The Role of PPARγ in Cancer Cachexia: Friend or Foe?
Provisionally accepted
- Nantong First People’s Hospital, Nantong, China
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Cachexia remains a major complication in cancer, with limited therapeutic options. Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARγ) has emerged as a key regulator of adipogenesis, lipid metabolism, and inflammation, but its role in cachexia is paradoxical. PPARγ activation can promote lipid storage, suppress inflammation, and modulate muscle–adipose crosstalk, potentially alleviating tissue wasting. Conversely, PPARγ agonists may enhance tumor growth in certain cancers, raising safety concerns. This review examines the dual functions of PPARγ in cancer cachexia, focusing on its regulation of adipose tissue remodeling (including browning and lipid metabolism), skeletal muscle homeostasis, and systemic inflammation, alongside tumor-promoting mechanisms that complicate its therapeutic use. Finally, emerging approaches such as selective PPARγ modulators (SPPARγMs) and tissue-targeted strategies are discussed to maximize anti-cachectic effects while minimizing oncogenic risks. Understanding these context-dependent actions is essential for translating PPARγ modulation into safe, effective cachexia therapies.
Keywords: PPARγ, Cancer cachexia, Lipolysis, muscle wasting, Inflammation, TZDs
Received: 01 Oct 2025; Accepted: 30 Nov 2025.
Copyright: © 2025 Ding, Jiang, Shen and Xu. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.
* Correspondence:
Liang Shen
Yiming Xu
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