title: Brain activity correlated with food preferences: a functional study comparing advanced non-small cell lung cancer patients with and without anorexia.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to examine the brain activity manifested while non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients with and without anorexia were exposed to visual food stimuli.
  
  
  METHODS
  We included 26 treatment-naïve patients who had been recently diagnosed with advanced NSCLC. Patients with brain metastasis were excluded. The patients were classified into anorectic and non-anorectic groups. Data from functional magnetic resonance imaging based on blood oxygen level-dependent (BOLD) signals were analyzed while the patients perceived pleasant and unpleasant food pictures. The brain records were analyzed with SPM 5 using a voxelwise multiple regression analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The non-anorexic patients demonstrated BOLD activation, comprising frontal brain regions in the premotor and the prefrontal cortices, only while watching unpleasant stimuli. The anorectic patients demonstrated no activation while watching the pleasant and unpleasant food pictures.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Anorectic patients with lung cancer present a lack of activation in the brain regions associated with food stimuli processing. These results are consistent with experiences in the clinical environment: Patients describe themselves as not experiencing sensations of hunger or having an appetite.
authors.affiliation: Oncology Center Médica Sur Clinic, Mexico City, México. ksanchez@medicasur.org.mx
authors.forename: Karla
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Sánchez-Lara
authors.forename: Oscar
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Arrieta
authors.forename: Eric
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Pasaye
authors.forename: Alessandro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Laviano
authors.forename: Roberto E
authors.initials: RE
authors.lastname: Mercadillo
authors.forename: Ricardo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Sosa-Sánchez
authors.forename: Nahum
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Méndez-Sánchez
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000855:Anorexia / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology; D001066:Appetite / Q000502:physiology; D002289:Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology*; D004644:Emotions / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D005518:Food Preferences / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D006815:Hunger / Q000502:physiology; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009424:Nervous System Physiological Phenomena; D010100:Oxygen / Q000097:blood; D010775:Photic Stimulation; D017397:Prefrontal Cortex / Q000503:physiopathology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D010100:Oxygen