{
  "abstract": "Background: Cancer-associated anorexia (AN) and cachexia are frequent and debilitating complications of cancer, driven by systemic inflammation and metabolic dysregulation. Lipocalin 2 (LCN2) has been implicated in immune-metabolic integration and central appetite control, however data in cancer patients are limited. This study aimed to assess circulating LCN2 in patients with gastrointestinal cancers (GI-CP) and to evaluate its association with AN, levels of systemic inflammatory cytokines (IL-6, −8, −10, −15, −18, and TNF-α), body weight change, and level of muscularity.\n\nMethods: Twenty-eight GI-CP naïve to treatment and 10 controls were enrolled. AN was diagnosed in 50% of GI-CP by the Functional Assessment of Anorexia/Cachexia Therapy (FAACT) score ( ≤ 30). Serum LCN2 concentrations were measured by ELISA, and cytokines were quantified using xMAP assay. Clinical, nutritional, and body composition parameters assessed by CT-scan were collected, and association(s) between LCN2 and inflammatory markers were analyzed.\n\nResults: In GI-CP, predominantly represented by colorectal cancer, LCN2, IL-6, IL-8, IL-15, and TNF-α were higher than controls (p < 0.05). In GI-CP, LCN2 showed positive correlations with IL-6 (rho = 0.862; p < 0.001) and IL-8 (rho = 0.789; p < 0.001). LCN2 levels were higher in GI-CP with AN vs. control (p = 0.003), but not between anorexic vs. non-anorexic GI-CP, and in GI-CP with body weight loss compared to those with weight-stable (p = 0.031) and vs. controls (p < 0.001). LCN2 was higher in GI-CP with AN and body weight loss compared to those without AN and body weight stable (p = 0.046) and in GI-CP with low muscle mass and body weight loss compared with those with body weight stable and high muscularity (p = 0.028).\n\nConclusion: Overall, these findings suggest that LCN2 may reflect the combined burden of inflammation and cachexia-related features in GI cancer.",
  "abstract_shown": true,
  "affiliations": [
    "Department of Translational and Precision Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome , ,",
    "DAHFMO Unit of Histology and Medical Embryology, and Interuniversity Institute of Myology, Sapienza University of Rome , ,",
    "Department of Experimental Medicine (DIMES), Section of Biochemistry, University of Genova , ,",
    "Department of Medical-Surgical Sciences and Translational Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome , ,",
    "Department of Clinical and Biological Sciences, University of Turin , ,"
  ],
  "article_type": "research article",
  "arxiv": null,
  "author_total": 9,
  "authors": [
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Federica Tambaro"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Giovanni Imbimbo"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        1
      ],
      "name": "Dario Coletti"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        2
      ],
      "name": "Roberta De Tullio"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        3
      ],
      "name": "Elena Belloni"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        3
      ],
      "name": "Giuseppe Nigri"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        4
      ],
      "name": "Paola Costelli"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Maurizio Muscaritoli"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Alessio Molfino"
    }
  ],
  "bibtex": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/awk9bqjeqf6bw.bib",
  "cited_by": 0,
  "doi": "10.3389/fnut.2026.1937525",
  "fulltext_url": "https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13724323/?tool=EBI",
  "id": "awk9bqjeqf6bw",
  "issns": [
    "2296-861X"
  ],
  "landing_url": "https://europepmc.org/article/PMC/PMC13724323",
  "language": "eng",
  "licence": "CC-BY",
  "licence_label": "CC BY",
  "licence_source": "article",
  "licence_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/",
  "metadata_licence": null,
  "native_subjects": [
    [
      "heading",
      "Original Research"
    ],
    [
      "openalex",
      "2737|Nutrition and Health in Aging"
    ]
  ],
  "openalex": "W7222980477",
  "pdf_url": "https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13724323/pdf/?tool=EBI",
  "pmcid": "PMC13724323",
  "pmid": "42973537",
  "published": "2026-10-19",
  "publisher": "Frontiers Media SA",
  "ris": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/awk9bqjeqf6bw.ris",
  "sources": [
    {
      "first_seen": "2026-11-03T15:20:51Z",
      "native_id": "PMC:PMC13724323",
      "source": "europepmc",
      "url": "https://europepmc.org/article/PMC/PMC13724323"
    },
    {
      "first_seen": "2026-11-04T12:22:55Z",
      "native_id": "PMC13724323",
      "source": "pmc",
      "url": "https://doi.org/10.3389/fnut.2026.1937525"
    },
    {
      "first_seen": "2026-11-04T15:20:48Z",
      "native_id": "MED:42973537",
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  "subjects": [
    {
      "field": "medicine",
      "origin": "openalex:2737|Nutrition and Health in Aging",
      "subfield": "physiology"
    }
  ],
  "title": "Circulating lipocalin-2 is associated with systemic inflammation and cachexia-related features in patients with gastrointestinal cancer",
  "title_text": "Circulating lipocalin-2 is associated with systemic inflammation and cachexia-related features in patients with gastrointestinal cancer",
  "type": "peer-reviewed",
  "updated_at": "2026-11-05T12:21:06Z",
  "url": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/awk9bqjeqf6bw",
  "venue": "Frontiers in nutrition",
  "versions": []
}