leptin and Head-and-Neck-Neoplasms

Previous studies have found that L-arginine induced beneficial effects over insulin resistance both in type 2 diabetes mellitus patients and healthy individuals. The aim of our study was to investigate whether an L-arginine enteral supplementation (20 g per day) in head and neck cancer patients could modify insulin resistance, leptin and adiponectin levels after surgery.. At surgery 82 patients were randomly allocated to two groups: group I received an enteral diet supplements with a high dose of arginine (20g per day) and group II received an enteral formula without arginine. At basal time and on postoperative day 10, the following parameters were recorded: glucose, c-reactive protein, insulin, HOMA (homeostasis model assessment), leptin and adiponectin.. Values of weight, body mass index, fat mass and fat free mass remained unchaged during the acute nutritional intervention in both groups. Insulin levels UI/L (-0.21+/-0.18) and HOMA units (-0.07+/-0.13) decreased in the arginine group. Adiponectin levels (+1.8+/-2.3ng/ml) increased in the arginine group.. Short-term enteral L-arginine therapy addeded to usual enteral nutrition of patients affected by head and neck cancer and surgery without diabetes mellitus type 2 is able to improve insulin resistance and adiponectin levels.. Introducción: Alguntos trabajos han encontrado que la L-arginina induce efectos beneficiosos sobre la resistencia a la insulina, tanto en pacientes con diabetes tipo 2 como en individuos sanos. El objetivo de nuestro estudio fue investigar si la suplementación enteral de L-arginina (20 g por día) en pacientes con cáncer de cabeza y cuello puede modificar la resistencia a la insulina, los niveles de leptina y adiponectina después de la cirugía. Material y métodos: Tras la cirugía 82 pacientes fueron asignados aleatoriamente a dos grupos: grupo I recibió un enterales suplementos de dieta con una dosis alta de arginina (20 g por día) y el grupo II recibió una fórmula enteral sin arginina. En el momento basal y el día 10 tras la cirugia, se registraron los siguientes parámetros: glucosa, proteína C reactiva, insulina, HOMA (Homeostasis Model Assessment), leptina y adiponectina. Resultados: Los valores de peso, índice de masa corporal, la masa grasa y la masa libre de grasa se mantuvieron sin cambios durante la intervención nutricional aguda en ambos grupos. Los niveles de insulina UI/L (-0,21 + / -0,18) y HOMA (-0,07 + / -0,13) disminuyeron en el grupo de arginina. Los niveles de adiponectina (1,8 + / -2.3ng/ml) aumentaron en el grupo de arginina. Conclusión: La nutrición enteral con L-arginina a corto plazo en los pacientes afectados por cáncer de cabeza y cuello y tras cirugía es capaz de mejorar la resistencia a la insulina y los niveles de adiponectina.

Topics: Adiponectin; Aged; Arginine; Dietary Supplements; Female; Head and Neck Neoplasms; Humans; Insulin Resistance; Leptin; Male; Middle Aged; Postoperative Period; Single-Blind Method

The purpose of the study was to assess response rate, clinical outcome, organ/function preservation and toxicity in head and neck cancer patients treated with induction chemotherapy followed by concomitant chemoradiotherapy and, when necessary, limited surgery. The study design was a phase II non-randomized trial in hospitalized patients setting. The treatment plan consisted of 3 cycles of induction chemotherapy with cisplatin, fluorouracil (5-FU), l-leucovorin and interferon alpha2b (PFL-IFN) followed by 7 cycles of 5-FU, hydroxyurea and concomitant radiation for 5 days (FHX) for a total radiation dose of 70 Gy. 13 Cis-retinoic acid was added to treatment regimen for chemoprevention and a systematic prophylaxis of mucositis was administered to all patients during FHX. Conservative surgical resection was reserved to patients with no optimal response (PR > or =70%), whereas radical surgery was performed as salvage treatment. Twenty-six patients were treated at one institution: more than 90% had stage IV disease and only 19.2% had laryngeal cancer. Eighty-one percent of patients had performance status 0 and 23.1% of patients had >5% weight loss at the start of treatment. Nineteen patients were analyzed for response to PFL-IFN: 3/19 (15.8%) patients achieved a CR and 7/19 (36.8%) achieved a PR for an ORR of 52.6%. FHX was administered on protocol to 12 patients: 6 patients (50%) had CR, 1 patient (8.3%) had PR for an ORR of 58.3%, 2 patients (16.7%) had SD and 3 patients (25%) had PD. At the completion of FHX, no patient underwent local therapy according to treatment plan. At a median follow-up time of 13.5 months (range 1-28+) at June 2001, among 26 patients enrolled 12 (46.1%) were still alive and 9 (75%) of them were progression-free. The median duration of response was 9 months (range 0-25+), the median progression-free survival was 10.5 months (range 0-28+), the median overall survival time was 9 months (range 1-22). The toxicity was significant and consisted mainly of mucositis and, to a lesser extent, neutropenia/thrombocytopenia. In the present study, the low serum levels of leptin and the high serum levels of proinflammatory cytokines in advanced stage cancer patients were confirmed. In conclusion, this sequential induction chemotherapy and chemoradiotherapy program has been found moderately active and significantly toxic; moreover, the long overall treatment duration must be taken into consideration. For these reasons, this regimen could not be rec

Topics: Adult; Aged; Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols; Cisplatin; Combined Modality Therapy; Cytokines; Dose-Response Relationship, Radiation; Female; Fluorouracil; Head and Neck Neoplasms; Humans; Inflammation; Interferon-alpha; Leptin; Leucovorin; Male; Middle Aged; Quality of Life; Treatment Outcome

Squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (SCCHN) usually emerges as a set of signs and symptoms that, either alone or in combination with standard treatment, may lead to malnutrition and weight loss.. This study evaluated patients with SCCHN before day 0 and 30 days after the end of treatment, with/without tumor resection. Each individual patient underwent analyses of body composition and resting metabolic rate, as well as assessment of serum glucose, insulin, leptin, adiponectin, interleukin-6 (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), IL-1β, and insulin sensitivity.. There was body mass loss during treatment and significant reduction in body fat and free fat mass. Early nutritional monitoring and tumor resection before treatment led to a better nutritional status and reduced inflammatory state.. Early nutritional monitoring and resection of the tumor by surgery may be important factors for patients to better tolerate treatment.

Topics: Adiponectin; Adult; Aged; Blood Glucose; Body Composition; Body Mass Index; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell; Chemoradiotherapy; Cohort Studies; Female; Head and Neck Neoplasms; Health Status; Humans; Insulin; Insulin Resistance; Interleukin-1beta; Interleukin-6; Leptin; Male; Middle Aged; Outcome Assessment, Health Care; Squamous Cell Carcinoma of Head and Neck; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha

In patients with cancers progressive reduction of body mass is frequently recent. Pathogenesis of cachexia in patients with cancer is multifactorial. Such factors as cytokines, peptides relieved by tumor mass and different forms of treatment as radio or chemotherapy may play a major role in the pathogenesis of cachexia in patients with cancer. The aim of this study was to assess the relationship between body fat and lean mass and plasma leptin, NPY and TNF concentrations in patients with cancer of oral cavity and pharynx, cancer of larynx and non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NIL). 30 patients (10 with cancer of oral cavity and pharynx, 10 with cancer of larynx and 10 with non-Hodgkin lymphoma) were enrolled into this study. Mean age of all cancer patients was 50 +/- 2.9 years (from 18 to 76 years). The control group consisted of 29 healthy subjects with a means age 48 +/- 3.5 years (from 18 to 75 years), properly chosen according to the body weight, BMI, gender and age as above mentioned groups of patients with cancer. In control and study groups body fat and not-fat mass was assessed before and after treatment using the bioelectrical impedance method. Before oncological therapy patients with cancer did not differ from healthy subject with regard to body weight and body mass index. After treatment significant: decrease of body weight, body fat mass and BMI was observed. Serum leptin, NPY and TNF concentrations were analysed in healthy subjects and patients with cancer before and after treatment. Before oncological treatment significantly lower serum leptin concentration in comparison to leptinaemia in control group was found. In contrast to serum leptin, NPY serum concentration was similar in patients with cancer and in control subjects. Serum concentration of TNF was significantly higher in patients with cancer in comparison to subjects of control group. After oncological treatment, serum leptin and NPY concentration did not change significantly. In contrast, serum TNF concentration decreased significantly after oncological therapy. From the results obtained in this study we can conclude, that in patients with cancer secretion of leptin is decreased in relation to body fat mass. However, contribution of this hormone to pathogenesis of cancer induced anorexia seems not to proven. From the other side, the role of TNF in pathogenesis of disregulation of leptin secretion seems to be very likely. After chemo or radiotherapy, serum NPY concentration did not change signif

Topics: Adult; Aged; Body Mass Index; Cachexia; Case-Control Studies; Chemotherapy, Adjuvant; Female; Head and Neck Neoplasms; Humans; Leptin; Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin; Male; Middle Aged; Neuropeptide Y; Radiotherapy, Adjuvant; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha