MicroCT enables simultaneous longitudinal tracking of murine pancreatic cancer progression and cachexia.

Unlabelled: Preclinical models of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) can greatly benefit from non-invasive imaging for evaluating disease progression and therapeutic response. Imaging approaches that can accurately and simultaneously track primary tumor growth, metastatic dissemination, and host cachexia over time are lacking. Here, we report an optimized dual-contrast micro-computed tomography (microCT) protocol for longitudinal imaging in orthotopic murine models of PDAC.

Melanocortin-4 receptor antagonist TCMCB07 alleviates chemotherapy-induced anorexia and weight loss in rats.

Cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy often experience anorexia and weight loss that substantially deteriorates overall health, reduces treatment tolerance and quality of life, and worsens oncologic outcomes. There are currently few effective therapeutic options to mitigate these side effects. The central melanocortin system, which plays a pivotal role in regulating appetite and energy homeostasis, presents a logical target for treating anorexia and weight loss.