Predicting Lung Cancer-Associated Cachexia With PET Imaging

This prospective observational study aims to investigate the relationship between cancer cachexia, stress levels, and metabolic changes in 150 lung cancer patients. Cancer cachexia, characterized by weight loss and muscle wasting, significantly impacts patient outcomes. Psychological stress is thought to contribute to cachexia development. Assessments will include medical history, physical examinations, laboratory tests, and imaging. Cancer cachexia will be diagnosed based on weight loss, reduced food intake, and inflammation markers. Psychological stress will be evaluated using questionnaires and biomarkers. Metabolic changes will be assessed using positron emission tomography-computed tomography (PET-CT) scans. The primary objective is to determine differences in metabolic activity between cachectic and non-cachectic patients. Secondary objectives include evaluating changes in brain activity and exploring the relationship between stress, inflammation, and metabolism.