Maladaptive Adipose Tissue Activity in Cancer

Virginia Commonwealth University3 enrolled

Overview

The purpose of this pilot research is to study brown adipose tissue, a type of fat that increases metabolism (burns energy) during exposure to cold, and how it may contribute to the weight loss observed in cancer.

The purpose of this research is to study brown adipose tissue, a type of fat that increases metabolism (burns energy) during exposure to cold, and how it may contribute to the weight loss observed in cancer. Many patients affected by cancer lose weight, despite normal or increased nutrition. It may progress to the condition called "cancer-associated cachexia." Cancer associated cachexia is defined by an ongoing loss of skeletal muscle mass with or without the loss of fat mass, and may negatively affect quality of life and the ability to undergo cancer treatments. Metabolism is the breakdown of food by the body into the energy that your body needs.

Study Type

OBSERVATIONAL

Enrollment

Conditions

Cancer Nos

Interventions

Resting Energy ExpenditurePROCEDURE

During each visit, the participant will be assessed in a resting state in a stable temperature controlled environment, and will undergo tests to find out how the body adjusts its metabolism to different temperatures.

Thermal Comfort QuestionnaireOTHER

Patients will be given a questionnaire to assess their thermal response (whether they felt warmer or colder) during each study visit.

Eligibility

Sex: ALLMin age: 40 Years

Medical Language ↔ Plain English

Inclusion Criteria: * ≥ 40 years of age * Have active cancer diagnosis. * Have had a PET/CT scan within the past 12 months at time of enrollment. * Ability to understand and the willingness to sign a written informed consent document Exclusion Criteria: * Current use of beta-blockers * Women who are pregnant or unsure of their pregnancy status * Women who are breastfeeding * Suffers from severe claustrophobia * Diagnosed with a serious psychiatric condition which could impede the judgement of the investigators, and/or the successful conduct of the recording. * In remission stage for cancer diagnosis

Locations (1)

Virginia Commonwealth University/ Massey Cancer Center

Richmond, Virginia, United States

Outcomes

Primary Outcomes

Difference in resting energy expenditure between brown adipose tissue (BAT)-positive and BAT-negative patients with cancer.

Characterization of the energy metabolism profiles of cancer patients with and without evidence of BAT activation will be assessed utilizing one sided t-test.

Time frame: 27 Months

Secondary Outcomes

Difference in energy expenditure between room temperature and response to warm exposure (energy expenditure) in BAT-positive and BAT-negative cancer patients.

Assessment of environmental modulation as an effective strategy to mitigate maladaptive BAT activation in patients with malignancy will be assessed by two-sided t-test.

Time frame: 27 Months

Data from ClinicalTrials.gov

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