M. Nowicki et al., Hormonal regulation of appetite and body mass in patients with advanced prostate cancer treated with combined androgen blockade, J ENDOC INV, 24(1), 2001, pp. 31-36
Cachexia is rarely observed in patients with advanced prostate cancer treat
ed with combined androgen blockade. Androgens play an important role in the
regulation of body mass composition and influence the secretion of leptin,
the appetite regulating hormone. The aim of the study was to assess the in
fluence of a combined treatment with nonsteroidal antiandrogen and LH-RH an
alogue on the hormonal regulation of appetite and changes in body mass in p
atients with advanced prostate cancer (Whitmore-Jewett stage D1 or D2). Eig
hteen patients with prostate cancer and 17 healthy subjects matched for age
and body mass index were included. In all patients serum concentrations of
leptin, neuropeptide Y (NPY), insulin, testosterone and estradiol were mea
sured before and after four and twelve weeks of androgen blockade. Pretreat
ment serum leptin levels were similar in patients with prostate cancer and
in the controls. In a multiple regression analysis only body mass index and
testosterone significantly contributed to the variation of plasma leptin.
During the treatment body mass and plasma leptin significantly increased wh
ile NPY decreased. The change of plasma NPY was significant only after 4 we
eks of therapy. This study shows that the afferent regulation of leptin sec
retion is unchanged in advanced prostate cancer. Androgen ablation signific
antly increases body mass and influences secretion of appetite regulating h
ormones. Testosterone appears to play a significant role in the regulation
of leptin secretion. (C) 2001, Editrice Kurtis.