Leptin and neuropeptide Y plasma levels in children with cancer

This study investigated leptin and neuropeptide Y levels in children with cancer, the relationship of those levels to cachexia, and their usefulness as prognostic indicators. Twenty-three newly diagnosed children with cancer were included in the study. The median age at diagnosis was 8 years (range 1.5-14), and the male to female ratio was 13:10. Body mass index, serum leptin and neuropeptide Y levels were measured at diagnosis and at each cycle of chemotherapy. The mean neuropeptide Y level was 211.1 pmol/l at diagnosis and decreased to 92.8 pmol/l at the fifth cycle of chemotherapy. In contrast, the mean leptin level was 3.9 ng/ml at diagnosis and increased to 13.0 ng/ml at the fifth cycle of chemotherapy. Thus, levels of these factors are influenced by treatment status and disease progression. The mean neuropeptide Y level at diagnosis was 82.32 pmol/l in children with complete remission and 430.16 pmol/l in those who died with disease during the follow-up period. The mean leptin level at diagnosis was 6.60 ng/ml in children with complete remission and 0.192 ng/ml in patients who died with disease during the follow-up period. The neuropeptide Y and leptin levels seem to be related to prognosis and could be used as prognostic indicators in the follow-up of children with cancer.