Medical Imaging of Cachexia

This pilot study will establish the differences in BAT uptake of 18F-FDG in cachectic and non-cachectic cancer patients using PET imaging. Patients willbe assessed for sarcopenia using a dual energy X-ray absorptiometry or bone densitometry scan (DXA). Given the variables which may affect uptake of BAT in cancer patients, this study will standardise patient preparation and PET scan procedure in order to obtain the most reliable assessment of BAT activity in all patients on study. It is hypothesisd that use of this PET imaging technique, which is part of standard care to assess cancer progression, may assist clinicians in early identification of metabolic changes in a patient, with potential for early intervention and utility in monitoring success of treatments of cachexia. A total of 40 patients will be evaluated, 20 patients with advanced/metastatic colorectal, non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) or pancreatic cancer without cachexia, and 20 patients with advanced/metastatic colorectal, non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), or pancreatic cancer with documented cachexia, all of whom are referred for standard of care 18F-FDG PET scans.