511P - The role of neuropeptide y in cancer-associated anorexia and its correlation with interleukin-1 beta

Abstract

Background: Anorexia has been known as a factor that can increase mortality and morbidity in cancer patients. Anorexia in cancer patients can be triggered by the cytokines which produced by tumor cells and cells that involved in immunological response to the tumor. One of that cytokines is interleukin-1 Beta (IL-1β). Neuropeptide Y (NPY) is an extremely powerful orexigenic peptide that stimulates energy deficiency as a hunger center and proopiomelanocortin (POMC) is an anorexigenic peptide for satiety. Cytokines produced by tumor cells inhibit NPY in the orexigenic pathway and excite the POMC on the anorexigenic pathway caused anorexia. In cancer, the most important process causes anorexia is inhibition of NPY. Methods: This study is an observational analytic with a cross-sectional approach. The research was conducted at Dr. M. Djamil Hospital. The sample of this study was all patients with cancer-associated anorexia who were treated in the Hematology and Medical Oncology Division, Internal Medicine Department of Dr. M. Djamil Hospital. Sample is a patient who satisfies the inclusion criteria taken consecutively (n = 30). Results: This study found the average levels of NPY in patients with cancer-associated anorexia is 2.11 ± 0.76 pg/ml. It is significantly lower than normal limit (5-90 pg/ml) (p < 0.05). However, the average levels of IL-1β is 37.75 ± 16.86 pg/ml. It is significantly higher than normal limit (<3.9 pg/ml) (p < 0.05). The results of statistical analysis showed significant difference between the average levels of NPY on moderate anorexia patients and the average levels of NPY on severe anorexia patients (p < 0.05). There is also a significant correlation between increased IL-1β levels and decreased levels of NPY in patients with cancer-associated anorexia (p < 0.05 and r = -0.547). Conclusions: The result of the study concludes that there is a decrease the average levels of NPY and increase the average levels of IL-1β in patients with cancer-associated anorexia, and there is a negative correlation between the levels of IL-1β and NPY levels in patients with cancer-associated anorexia. Legal entity responsible for the study: Division of Hematology and Medical Oncology, Internal Medicine Department, Dr. M. Djamil General Hospital, Padang, Indonesia. Funding: None Disclosure: All authors have declared no conflicts of interest.