# How a Common Chemo Drug Eats Away at Muscle, and a Possible Way to Block It

*The cGAS-STING pathway contributes to cisplatin-induced skeletal muscle atrophy through altered proteostasis and myogenic signaling.*

- **Evidence Level**: Preliminary
- **Publication Types**: Journal Article
- **Journal**: Cell communication and signaling : CCS
- **Sample Size**: Mice (wild-type and genetically modified)
- **Authors**: Liu X, Xu M, Wang H, Wang H, Wang H, Fang W, Li M, Huang J, Chen F, Wang H, Yu Y, Zhu L
- **Published**: 2026-06-12
- **Topics**: muscle atrophy, chemotherapy, inflammation
- **DOI**: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12964-026-02989-8
- **Original Source**: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/42286673/

## Summary

Cisplatin is a widely used cancer drug, but it often wastes away muscle. In mice, scientists found that an immune signaling pathway called cGAS-STING drives much of this muscle loss. Switching off this pathway in muscle helped protect it from the drug's damage. This points to a possible target for keeping muscle intact during chemo.

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_Canonical: https://longevity-switzerland.com/en/research/how-a-common-chemo-drug-eats-away-at-muscle-and-a-possible-way-to-block-it · Part of Longevity Cities · Updated 2026-06-12_