Anorexia iN Cancer Patients: ANCHOR
Anorexia iN Cancer Patients: Assessment of the Gut HORmone and Cytokine Profile and Body Composition, and the Impact of Dietetic Support in Patients With Gastrointestinal Cancer. (ANCHOR Study)
About This Trial
The rationale for this study is to prospectively investigate the outcomes of patients undergoing standard dietetic interventions alongside treatment for their advanced gastrointestinal cancers, and to further characterise the relationship with body composition. A number of patients will be enrolled in a sub-study investigating the neuronal-enteroendocrine-hypothalamic axis. Gut hormone study. Our hypothesis is that proinflammatory cytokines produced by the tumour can not only affect appetite directly through the vagal and the central melanocortin system but also indirectly though the enhanced EEC activity; either through increased number or increased function. In this study, the investigators will explore and compare the pattern and levels (pre-prandial and post prandial) of the pro-inflammatory cytokines and gut hormones between stage-standardised anorexic and non-anorexic cancer patients and age-matched healthy controls.