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.—