Assessment of the association of body composition and GDF-15 levels in patients with gastric and colorectal cancer.

• Grant number: 24/15448-1
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Master
• Start date: October 01, 2024
• End date: March 31, 2027
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Medicine - Medical Clinics
• Principal Investigator: José Barreto Campello Carvalheira
• Grantee: Fabíola Furtuoso Zarpelão
• Host Institution: Centro de Hematologia e Hemoterapia (HEMOCENTRO). Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP). Campinas , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 21/10265-8 - Cancer Theranostics Innovation Center (CancerThera), AP.CEPID

Abstract

Cachexia is a multifactorial syndrome characterized by loss of appetite, systemic inflammation, and metabolic changes. Cachexia is associated with progressive weight loss determined by the loss of muscle mass, with or without depletion of adipose tissue. The prevalence of cachexia varies according to the type of tumor; in colorectal cancer, it is around 43%, and in gastroesophageal cancer, it reaches 60%. Changes in body composition are at the heart of the pathophysiology of cachexia. Sarcopenia and high adipose tissue radiodensity have been correlated with lower survival in previous studies conducted by our group. Despite greater knowledge of the pathophysiology of cachexia, there are still several gaps in its complete understanding, limiting advances in therapies that could prevent or reverse this condition. New molecular targets have been highlighted, such as growth differentiation factor 15 (GDF15), a circulating protein associated with food intake control, energy homeostasis, and body weight regulation. More studies are needed to broaden the understanding of the mechanisms of action of GDF15 in cancer, especially associated with mechanisms of body composition modification. The main objective of this work is to investigate the association between body composition, radiodensity, and glucose uptake of visceral and subcutaneous adipose tissues, measured by positron emission tomography/computed tomography, with plasma levels of GDF15 in patients with gastric and colorectal cancer treated at the oncology outpatient clinic of the Hospital de Clínicas at UNICAMP.