Neurobehavioural and Cognitive Changes in Cancer Cachexia (CANCOG)

Launched by UNIVERSITY OF CAMBRIDGE · Oct 30, 2023

Keywords

ClinConnect Summary

The CANCOG study is researching how cancer and related weight loss affect the brain and appetite. The researchers want to understand if there are differences in certain brain areas that control hunger and motivation to eat, comparing people with cancer-related weight loss to healthy individuals. They will use MRI scans to look at the brain's structure and blood flow while participants complete questionnaires and computer tasks to see how their brains respond to different stimuli. The study also aims to collect blood samples for future analysis related to metabolism and body composition.

To participate in this study, you need to be at least 18 years old and give written consent. If you have cancer, you must have experienced unintentional weight loss of more than 5% of your body weight in the last six months, which is believed to be related to your cancer. Healthy volunteers should not have a history of cancer or unexplained weight loss. Participants can expect to spend time answering questions and doing tasks during the MRI scan. It's important to note that some health conditions or medications may prevent individuals from participating, ensuring everyone’s safety and the study’s accuracy.

Gender

ALL

Eligibility criteria

• Inclusion Criteria:
• General inclusion criteria for all groups:
• • Written informed consent
• • Aged 18 years or over
• • Willing and able to comply with study procedures and visits
• Additional inclusion criteria for participants with cancer:
• • Histological or cytological diagnosis of cancer or confirmed non-intracranial malignancy on imaging.
• • Unintended documented weight loss of \>5% body weight in 6 months which is felt to be cancer related, OR patient reported weight loss and/or change in appetite
• Exclusion Criteria:
• General exclusion criteria for all groups:
• • Non-fluent English speaker
• • Active infection, as determined by the investigator based on clinical symptoms and / or fever and / or requirement for antibiotics
• • Women, who are pregnant, plan to become pregnant or are lactating.
• • MRI contraindication
• • A significant acute, chronic or psychiatric condition which in the judgement of the investigator would place the volunteer at undue risk or interfere with the study
• • Metabolically or clinically unstable on day of study visit
• • Artificial nutrition
• • Taking medications which, as determined by the investigator, may affect appetite or cognition, or otherwise affect completion of study tasks.
• • Weight or body circumference above upper threshold for MRI scanner (220kg)
• • Unresolved obstructive gastrointestinal (GI) lesion
• Additional exclusion criteria for participants with cancer:
• • • Intracranial cancer or metastatic intracranial involvement of cancer
• Additional exclusion criteria for healthy volunteers:
• • Have, or be recovering from, any form of cancer
• • Unintentional weight loss of \>5% body weight or unexplained loss of appetite