Grant: Operating Grant

Cancer patients often enter into a syndrome of malnutrition and wasting, and an important part of this problem is loss of appetite (anorexia). Cancer patients generally fail to take in enough essential nutrients and this malnutrition worsens as the disease progresses. Loss of appetite is also distressing, because food and eating are an important part of family and social life and because we understand that food is essential to sustain life. When children with cancer lose appetite, this is particularly distressing to thier parents and family. Cancer anorexia remains a problem that is difficult to treat in advanced cancer patients. Only a few treatments are available and these have the unwanted side effect of causing muscle wasting. Recent clinical research has alsobeen disappointing, perhaps in part due to a relatively poor understanding of the fundamental nature of cancer anorexia. Our research team brings together experts on appetite, nutrition and weight loss, to begin a program of basic research in laboratory animals. We will identify the key pathways of cancer anorexia which occur in the brain centres where appetite is regulated, and also identify factors related to muscle wasting. This work will be done with a view to developing treatments for the palliation of cancer -associated malnutrition and wasting in cancer patients.