General Pathology USMLE Step 1 Practice Question
A 61-year-old man with metastatic pancreatic adenocarcinoma presents with profound weight loss despite consuming 2500 kcal daily. He has lost 35 pounds over 3 months, reduced muscle mass, and marked fatigue. Vital signs: BP 118/76, HR 92, RR 18, temp 37.2°C, SpO2 98%. Serum albumin is 2.8 g/dL. CT imaging confirms metastatic disease. He denies nausea or vomiting. Which cytokine is most strongly implicated in this cachexia syndrome?
Answer choices
- ATNF alphaCorrect answer
- BIL 5
- CCalcitonin
- DBradykinin
- EHistamine
- FIL-6 mediating cachexia via JAK-STAT muscle catabolism
See the full explanation
Get the correct-answer rationale, why each distractor is wrong, the underlying mechanism, and high-yield associations — plus adaptive practice that targets your weak areas — with a free MedBoardPRO account.