cachectin
noun
ca·chec·tin
kə-ˈkek-tən, ka- 
: tumor necrosis factor
In 1985 a New York research group identified a protein, which they called cachectin, that causes emaciation in many patients with chronic infections or cancer. Shortly afterward, another group realized that cachectin was identical to tumor necrosis factor, a cancer-fighting substance manufactured by the cells of the immune system.—
Gordon Bakoulis Bloch, Discover
Gordon Bakoulis Bloch, DiscoverCite this Entry
“Cachectin.” Merriam-Webster.com Medical Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/medical/cachectin. Accessed 29 Oct. 2025.
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