title: Appetite and cancer-associated anorexia: a review.
abstract: Appetite is governed by peripheral hormones and central neurotransmitters that act on the arcuate nucleus of the hypothalamus and nucleus tactus solitarius of the brainstem. Cancer anorexia appears to be the result of an imbalance between neuropeptide-Y and pro-opiomelanocortin signals favoring pro-opiomelanocortin. Many of the appetite stimulants redress this imbalance. Most of our understanding of appetite neurophysiology and tumor-associated anorexia is derived from animals and has not been verified in humans. There have been few clinical trials and very little translational research on anorexia despite its prevalence in cancer.
authors.affiliation: Harry R. Horvitz Center for Palliative Medicine, Department of Hematology/Medical Oncology, FCCP, Cleveland Clinic Foundation, 9500 Euclid Avenue, R35, Cleveland, OH 44195, USA. davism6@ccf.org
authors.forename: Mellar P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Davis
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Dreicer
authors.forename: Declan
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Walsh
authors.forename: Ruth
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Lagman
authors.forename: Susan B
authors.initials: SB
authors.lastname: LeGrand
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000855:Anorexia / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D001066:Appetite; D019167:Appetite Stimulants / Q000494:pharmacology; D006801:Humans; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis*
chemical_list: D019167:Appetite Stimulants