Embodiments of the invention provide mouse tumor models involving either the B16 mouse melanoma or MXT mouse mammary tumor, untreated or treated with chemotherapy and/or anti-cachectic agents, for the study of tumor-generated or cancer therapy-generated cachexia-inducing signals and mechanisms. Other embodiments of the invention also provide additional models, including pre-treatment of mouse skin with anti-cachectic proteins prior to tumor implantation, for the study of anti-cachectic signals and mechanisms generated by the skin. To reduce or reverse tumor- and chemotherapy-induced cachexia, embodiments of the invention use the human proteins placental alkaline phosphatase, transferrin, .alpha..sub.1-antitrypsin preparations or combinations thereof as well as chemically synthesized CCDTHT or N,N-diethyl-N-methyl-2-[(9-oxo-9H-thioxanthen-2-yl)methoxy]-ethanaminium iodide or CCDTHT-like compounds.