Cancer Anorexia and the Central Nervous System

Neuroimaging of Hypothalamic Activity During Cancer Anorexia

The pathogenesis of cancer anorexia is complex and multifactorial. However, a number of consistent and robust evidence point to a prominent role for the central nervous system. In particular, the hyperactivation of the immune system, due to tumour growth, causes a systemic inflammatory response primarily mediated by pro-inflammatory cytokines. At the central level, inflammatory response profoundly alters the activity of the hypothalamic nuclei, which are involved in the regulation of energy homeostasis. In particular, pro-inflammatory cytokines inhibit prophagic neurons activity, while enhance the activation of the anorexigenic neurons. Although supported by compelling experimental evidence, it should be acknowledged that this pathogenic hypothesis has not been confirmed yet by human studies.

Aim of the present study is to determine the specific pattern(s) of the brain activation after assumption of a standard meal in both anorexic and non-anorexic cancer patients to reveal potential differences, which will be correlated with the levels of concurrently measured circulating pro-inflammatory cytokines. The results obtained would help in assessing the role of the central nervous system and, in particular of the hypothalamus, in the pathogenesis of cancer anorexia.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Cancer Cachexia

Detailed Description

After approval of the study protocol by the Ethical Committee of our Institution (Azienda Policlinico Umberto I, Sapienza University, Rome, Italy), 9 anorexic cancer patients, 4 non-anorexic cancer patients and 2 healthy individuals will be studied. The sample size is based on studies of neuroimaging already published and available on international journals.

Patients with confirmed cancer diagnosis will be enrolled before the initiation of any anti-cancer treatments. The presence/absence of anorexia will be investigated using a specific questionnaire (Cangiano et al., 1990) and a visual analogue scale (VAS). After an overnight fasting, blood samples will be collected from cancer patients and control subjects and interleukin(IL)-1, IL-6 and Tumor Necrosis Factor-α (TNF-α) levels will be measured by a commercially available ELISA kit.

On the same day, hypothalamic activation pattern(s) will be evaluated in patients and in control subjects by fMRI. After basal evaluation, all the groups will receive a standard oral meal, i.e., a 200 mL hypercaloric oral nutritional supplement providing 300 Kcal, and then a second fMRI scan will be performed. Using a computerized software, the average value of the grey for the hypothalamus will be calculated, and normalized for the one obtained in the basal condition, to obtain the percentage (%) of activation (or inhibition) of the hypothalamus.

Data obtained will be statistically analyzed using the t-Student and Bonferroni tests.

• Study Type: Observational
• Enrollment (Actual): 15

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• Italy
  • Rome, Italy, 00185
    • Department of Clinical Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 18 years to 85 years (Adult, Older Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No
• Genders Eligible for Study: All

• Sampling Method: Probability Sample

Study Population

Lung cancer patients with confirmed cancer diagnosis before the initiation of any anti-cancer treatments will be enrolled. Nine anorexic cancer patients, 4 non-anorexic cancer patients and 2 healthy individuals will be studied.

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Lung cancer patients at diagnosis

Exclusion Criteria:

• Patients treated with immunosuppressors, with concomitant wasting diseases (e.g. AIDS, trauma, end-stage renal disease)

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Observational Models: Case-Control
• Time Perspectives: Cross-Sectional

Number of groups / cohorts

3

Cohorts and Interventions

Group / Cohort
ANOREXIC CANCER PATIENTS; Nine lung cancer patients were diagnosed as anorexic based on the results obtained by the appetite assessment tools we used. These patients were studied by fMRI regarding the hypothalamic activity.
NON-ANOREXIC CANCER PATIENTS; Four lung cancer patients were diagnosed as non-anorexic based on the results obtained by the appetite assessment tools we used. These patients were studied by fMRI regarding the hypothalamic activity.
CONTROL GROUP; Two healthy volunteers with normal appetite were studied by fMRI regarding the hypothalamic activity.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
ACTIVATION/NON ACTIVATION OF SPECIFIC BRAIN AREAS, EVALUATED BY FUNCTIONAL MAGNETIC RESONANCE	We observed different BOLD signal in the region of the hypothalamus between the 3 groups. The BOLD signal and the activation/no activation areas were statistically analyzed by a specific statistical method (i.e., parametric mapping).	TIME 0 (BASELINE)

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: University of Roma La Sapienza
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Alessandro Laviano, MD, Sapienza University of Rome

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start: April 1, 2010
• Primary Completion (Actual): December 1, 2014
• Study Completion (Actual): April 1, 2015

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: March 14, 2012
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: March 27, 2012
• First Posted (Estimate): March 28, 2012

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Estimate): August 18, 2015
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: July 28, 2015
• Last Verified: July 1, 2015

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: cancer; inflammation; anorexia; hypothalamus
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Signs and Symptoms, Digestive; Body Weight; Body Weight Changes; Emaciation; Weight Loss; Anorexia; Cachexia
• Other Study ID Numbers: FRFLAV