Cancer cachexia is a complex multifactorial systemic syndrome that characterized by metabolic disorders mediating muscle atrophy and weight loss. Cancer cachexia is not only a contraindication to the comprehensive cancer treatment such as chemotherapy but also a deteriorating state with decreasing quality of life and short survival. Cancer cachexia occurs in 50%-80% of cancer patients with an incidence of over 85% in patients with pancreatic lung and gastric cancer. In addition 20% of cancer patients die as a result of the enormous wasting associated with cachexia. Metabolomics technology reveals the metabolic pathogenesis of diseases through the study of changes in the composition and concentration of metabolites and has been widely used in recent years for the characterisation and biomarker studies of tumours and metabolic diseases to elucidate the metabolic interactions of multiple tissues. In the present study we summarised the metabolic changes and pathways of cancer cachexia to elucidate the fundamental metabolic reprogramming of cancer cachexia. We reviewed the current status of biomarker research and the mechanism of cancer cachexia resulting from different types of cancer. By comparing the metabolic profiles of cancer cachexia from clinical samples and animal models we analysed the metabolic interactions of different cancer cachexias. The present study not only provides new ideas for the diagnosis and prevention of cancer cachexia but also new strategies for drug target research and clinical intervention research.