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Ghrelin is a hormone with multiple physiologic functions, including promotion of growth hormone release, stimulation of appetite and regulation of energy homeostasis. Treatment with ghrelin/ghrelin-receptor agonists is a prospective therapy for disease-related cachexia and malnutrition. In vitro studies have shown high expression of ghrelin in cancer tissue, although its role including its impact in cancer risk and progression has not been established. We performed a systematic literature review to identify peer-reviewed human or animal in vivo original research studies of ghrelin, ghrelin-receptor agonists, or ghrelin genetic variants and the risk, presence, or growth of cancer using structured searches in PubMed database as well as secondary searches of article reference lists, additional reviews and meta-analyses. Overall, 45 (73.8%) of the 61 studies reviewed, including all 11 involving exogenous ghrelin/ghrelin-receptor agonist treatment, reported either a null (no statistically significant difference) or inverse association of ghrelin/ghrelin-receptor agonists or ghrelin genetic variants with cancer risk, presence or growth; 10 (16.7%) studies reported positive associations; and 6 (10.0%) reported both negative or null and positive associations. Differences in serum ghrelin levels in cancer cases vs controls (typically lower) were reported for some but not all cancers. The majority of in vivo studies showed a null or inverse association of ghrelin with risk and progression of most cancers, suggesting that ghrelin/ghrelin-receptor agonist treatment may have a favorable safety profile to use for cancer cachexia. Additional large-scale prospective clinical trials as well as basic bioscientific research are warranted to further evaluate the safety and benefits of ghrelin treatment in patients with cancer.

Case Summary A female presented in infancy with hypotonia, undetectable serum glucose, lactic acidosis, and triglycerides > 5,000 mg/dl. The diagnosis of type 1A glycogen storage disease (GSD) was made by liver biopsy that showed increased glycogen and absent glucose-6-phosphatase enzyme activity. She was treated with dextrose feeding, which was replaced by frequent cornstarch feeding, with improvement of her metabolic parameters. At age 18 years she had marked hypertriglyceridemia (3,860 mg/dl) and eruptive xanthomas, and was treated with fenofibrate, atorvastatin, and fish oil. At age 29 years she was noted to have multiple liver adenomas, severe anemia, and hyperuricemia. Aggressive cornstarch therapy was commenced with a goal of maintaining her blood glucose levels > 75 mg/dl and lactate levels < 2 mmol/L. After 15 months on this regimen, her lipids levels (measured in mg/dl) off all medications were: total cholesterol 222, triglycerides 179, high density lipoprotein cholesterol 32, and calculated low density lipoprotein cholesterol 154. Her weight was stable with a body mass index of 24.8 kg/m2. Her liver adenomas had decreased in size, and her anemia and hyperuricemia had improved. She was homozygous for the R83C missense mutation in G6PC. Our data indicate that optimized metabolic control to maintain blood glucose levels > 75 mg/dl is critical in the management of this disease.

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Background: Hypophosphatemia has been recognized as one of the side effect of intravenous ferric carboxymaltose infusion. This effect is thought to be secondary to fibroblast growth factor 23 (FGF 23) mediated renal phosphate wasting and associated with calcitriol deficiency and secondary hyperparathyroidism. Clinical Case: A 76 years old male patient with medical problems including hypertension, type 2 diabetes mellitus, hyperlipidemia, paroxysmal atrial fibrillation, nephrolithiasis, spinal stenosis and chronic anemia was referred to endocrinology clinic for osteoporosis management. Bone density scan showed left femur neck T-score of -2.5 and L1-L4 lumbar spine T-score of 1.4. He reported pain on back and bilateral posterior thighs, difficulty with ambulation which were partly attributed to severe spinal stenosis that he was planned to have surgery for. Muscle strength was normal on examination. Laboratory studies were obtained for osteoporosis work up and showed: Calcium: 8.9 mg/dL (8.8-10.2 mg/dL), Creatinine: 0.77 mg/dL (0.74-1.35 mg/dL), GFR: 88 mL/min/BSA, Albumin 4.5 g/dL (3.5-5.0 g/dL), 25-Hydroxy vitamin D: 26 ng/mL, Magnesium 1.8 mg/dL (1.7-2.3 mg/mL), 1,25 Dihydroxy Vitamin D 24 pg/mL (18-64 pg/mL), Phosphorus: 1 mg/dL (2.5-4.5 mg/dL), PTH 163 pg/mL (15-65 pg/mL), Hemoglobin 12.9 mg/dL (13.2-16.6 mg/dL). Due to hypophosphatemia tumor induced osteomalacia diagnosis was entertained and further work up was considered in this regard however later noted that patient received ferric carboxymaltose 750 mg infusion two times within last 3 weeks for iron deficiency anemia. Hemoglobin level was 8.6 mg/dL before the infusions. After oral phosphate replacement the phosphate level improved to 2.4 mg/dL. Serum FGF 23 level was measured and it was normal at 108 RU/mL (&lt;180 RU/mL). He was then started on bisphosphonate treatment for osteoporosis. Conclusion: Hypophosphatemia and secondary hyperparathyroidism can be seen after ferric carboxymaltose infusion due to FGF-23 mediated mechanism. In literature various presentations were reported from transient- asymptomatic hypophosphatemia to severe acute symptomatic hypophosphatemia along with persistent hypophosphatemia with osteomalacia and fragility fractures due to recurrent ferric carboxymaltose infusions. Thus, one should keep this possible side effect in mind during evaluation of hypophosphatemia and osteoporosis. References: 1. Wolf M, Chertow GM, Macdougall IC, Kaper R, Krop J, Strauss W. Randomized trial of intravenous iron-induced hypophosphatemia. JCI Insight. Dec 6 2018;3(23):e124486 2. Fang W, McMahon LP, Bloom S, Garg M. Symptomatic severe hypophosphatemia after intravenous ferric carboxymaltose. JGH Open. October 2019, volume 3, issue 5, P 438-440