The majority of in vivo studies showed a null or inverse association of ghrelin with risk and progression of most cancers , suggesting that ghrelin/ghrelin-receptor agonist treatment may have a favorable safety profile to use for cancer cachexia .
Ghrelin is a hormone with multiple physiologic functions , including promotion of growth hormone release , stimulation of appetite and regulation of energy homeostasis .
Treatment with ghrelin/ghrelin-receptor agonists is a prospect i ve therapy for disease-related cachexia and malnutrition .
In vitro studies have shown high expression of ghrelin in cancer tissue , although its role including its impact in cancer risk and progression has not been established .
Pharmacodynamic hormonal effects of anamorelin, a novel oral ghrelin mimetic and growth hormone secretagogue in healthy volunteers.
OBJECTIVE Activation of ghrelin receptors stimulates GH secretion and appetite , increasing lean body mass and body weight . However , clinical use of ghrelin is limited because it has a short half-life and must be administered parenterally . Anamorelin is a novel , orally active , non-peptidic ghrelin mimetic and growth hormone secretagogue . Our objective was to evaluate its hormonal effects in healthy subjects . DESIGN A double-blind , r and omized , placebo-controlled study evaluated the short-term effects of anamorelin on GH , insulin-like growth factor-1 ( IGF-1 ) , insulin-like growth factor binding protein 3 ( IGFBP-3 ) , prolactin , ACTH , LH , FSH , TSH , cortisol , insulin and glucose .  Normal healthy volunteers ( n=32 ) recruited from the general population were administered escalating doses of anamorelin ( 25 , 50 , and 75 mg daily ) vs. placebo . RESULTS Anamorelin significantly increased GH levels at all doses ( p < or=0.01 ) . Effects on the somatotropic axis were maintained , as evidence d by sustained increases in IGF-1 and IGFBP-3 compared to placebo following 5 - 6 days of treatment . Negligible effects on other anterior pituitary hormone profiles and on fasting glucose were noted and all mean hormone levels remained within normal range . Some degree of insulin resistance as assessed by HOMA-IR was evident after treatment with 75 mg dose but not with the 25 or the 50 mg doses . Significant dose-related increases in body weight were recorded . Changes in body weight directly correlated with changes in IGF-1 levels .  Anamorelin was well tolerated . CONCLUSIONS Anamorelin increases GH , IGF-1 , IGFBP-3 and body weight with good tolerability and selectivity , without affecting other anterior pituitary axes or fasting glucose levels
The majority of in vivo studies showed a null or inverse association of ghrelin with risk and progression of most cancers , suggesting that ghrelin/ghrelin-receptor agonist treatment may have a favorable safety profile to use for cancer cachexia .
Ghrelin is a hormone with multiple physiologic functions , including promotion of growth hormone release , stimulation of appetite and regulation of energy homeostasis .
Treatment with ghrelin/ghrelin-receptor agonists is a prospect i ve therapy for disease-related cachexia and malnutrition .
In vitro studies have shown high expression of ghrelin in cancer tissue , although its role including its impact in cancer risk and progression has not been established .