Whole Body Metabolic Activity as a Reflection of Tumor Metabolic Dysregulation and a Predictor of Treatment Response in Ovarian Cancer

Summary

The primary objectives of the study are: 1. To delineate commonly utilized tumor metabolic alterations in ovarian cancer. These metabolic alterations will be explored for potentially targetable pathways to restore chemotherapy responsiveness. 2. To define the relationship between whole-body metabolic activity as measured via indirect calorimetry with ex vivo measure of tumor metabolic activity. The secondary objectives of the study are: 3. To evaluate longitudinal changes in whole-body metabolic activity over the course of cytotoxic chemotherapy and evaluate these changes as they relate to oncologic outcomes and treatment-free interval. 4. To examine the impact of tumor metabolic alterations on healthy non-malignant tissues and serum metabolites. 5. An additional exploratory objective is to collect data that will contribute to a more holistic understanding of the whole-body metabolic effects of ovarian cancer. Based on prior studies, surveys have been an effective method for capturing the social, psychological, and behavioral factors associated with the disease. It is possible that changes in metabolism and inflammation are mediated by these psychosocial factors that ultimately impact response to cancer therapy. It is hypothesized that whole-body metabolic activity as measured via indirect calorimetry can be utilized as a non-invasive surrogate to reflect tumor metabolic dysregulation in patients with ovarian cancer. Moreover, it is hypothesized that there will be an inverse relationship between treatment-free interval and the metabolic rate when measured at a whole-body level and an increased rate of glycolysis when measured within the tumor microenvironment. To address these hypotheses, the study will pursue the specific aims listed above.

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