A breakthrough in the study of cancer anorexia

The control of appetite and satiety has enjoyed a renewed focus largely bec ause of the discovery of several peptide hormones that transmit important s ignals to feeding centers in brain. Stimulatory (orexigenic) and inhibitory (anorexigenic) neuropeptide systems have been identified and the importanc e of hormonal input from the periphery has been established. However, the c hemical mediators of cancer-induced anorexia have yet to be clearly identif ied. Now, using a selective receptor antagonist, the crucial role of the en dogenous alpha -melanocyte-stimulating hormone-melanocortin receptor system in brain has been identified to be the point of convergence for the cytoki ne-mediated anorexia and wasting.