Weight Loss as an Untapped Early Detection Marker in Pancreatic and Periampullary Cancer

The mortality burden of cachexia or weight loss in patients with colorectal or pancreatic cancer: A systematic literature review

Cancer-associated cachexia is a multifactorial wasting disorder characterized by anorexia, unintentional weight loss (skeletal muscle mass with or without loss of fat mass), progressive functional impairment, and poor prognosis. This systematic literature review (SLR) examined the relationship between cachexia and survival in patients with colorectal or pancreatic cancer in recent literature. The SLR was conducted following PRISMA guidelines. Embase® and PubMed were searched to identify articles published in English between 1 January 2016 and 10 October 2021 reporting survival in adults with cancer and cachexia or at risk of cachexia, defined by international consensus (IC) diagnostic criteria or a broader definition of any weight loss. Included publications were studies in ≥100 patients with colorectal or pancreatic cancer. Thirteen publications in patients with colorectal cancer and 13 with pancreatic cancer met eligibility criteria. Included studies were observational and primarily from Europe and the United States. Eleven studies (42%) reported cachexia using IC criteria and 15 (58%) reported any weight loss. An association between survival and cachexia or weight loss was assessed across studies using multivariate (n = 23) or univariate (n = 3) analyses and within each study across multiple weight loss categories. Cachexia/weight loss was associated with a statistically significantly poorer survival in at least one weight loss category in 16 of 23 studies that used multivariate analyses and in 1 of 3 studies (33%) that used univariate analyses. Of the 17 studies demonstrating a significant association, 9 were in patients with colorectal cancer and 8 were in patients with pancreatic cancer. Cachexia or weight loss was associated with significantly poorer survival in patients with colorectal or pancreatic cancer in nearly two-thirds of the studies. The classification of weight loss varied across and within studies (multiple categories were evaluated) and may have contributed to variability. Nonetheless, awareness of cachexia and routine assessment of weight change in clinical practice in patients with colorectal or pancreatic cancer could help inform prognosis and influence early disease management strategies.

Nanodrug-bacteria conjugates-mediated oncogenic collagen depletion enhances immune checkpoint blockade therapy against pancreatic cancer

BACKGROUND

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) cancer cells specifically produce abnormal oncogenic collagen to bind with integrin α3β1 receptor and activate the downstream focal adhesion kinase (FAK), protein kinase B (AKT), and mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathway. Collectively, this promotes immunosuppression and tumor proliferation and restricts the response rate of clinical cancer immunotherapies.

METHODS

Here, by leveraging the hypoxia tropism and excellent motility of the probiotic Escherichia coli strain Nissle 1917 (ECN), we developed nanodrug-bacteria conjugates to penetrate the extracellular matrix (ECM) and shuttle the surface-conjugated protein cages composed of collagenases and anti-programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) antibodies to PDAC tumor parenchyma.

FINDINGS

We found the oncogenic collagen expression in human pancreatic cancer patients and demonstrated its interaction with integrin α3β1. We proved that reactive oxygen species (ROS) in the microenvironment of PDAC triggered collagenase release to degrade oncogenic collagen and block integrin α3β1-FAK signaling pathway, thus overcoming the immunosuppression and synergizing with anti-PD-L1 immunotherapy.

CONCLUSIONS

Collectively, our study highlights the significance of oncogenic collagen in PDAC immunotherapy, and consequently, we developed a therapeutic strategy that can deplete oncogenic collagen to synergize with immune checkpoint blockade for enhanced PDAC treatment efficacy.

FUNDING

This work was supported by the University of Wisconsin Carbone Cancer Center Research Collaborative and Pancreas Cancer Research Task Force, UWCCC Transdisciplinary Cancer Immunology-Immunotherapy Pilot Project, and the start-up package from the University of Wisconsin-Madison (to Q.H.).

Does Preoperative Weight Loss Affect Outcomes After Major Liver Resection? Analysis of a National Database

Introduction: The association between unintentional weight loss (WL) and outcomes after major hepatectomy for malignancy remains unclear.Methods: This retrospective cohort study reviewed the 2014-2019 NSQIP database of all patients who underwent major liver resections. The patients were categorized into two groups based on their history of weight loss. The primary outcome measure was the 30-day mortality. The secondary outcome was 30-day in-hospital complications.Results: In total, 384 patients had a history of preoperative weight loss. Preoperative WL was an independent predictor of septic shock (OR, 2.44; CI: 1.61, 3.69), bile leak (OR: 1.96; CI: 1.51, 2.55), and grade C liver failure (OR: 2.57; CI: 1.64, 4.01). However, preoperative WL was not a significant predictor of perioperative mortality (OR: 1.38; CI: 0.82, 2.32).Conclusion: The study found higher morbidity rates in patients undergoing liver resection with a history of weight loss. Further validation with prospective weight monitoring is needed to validate as a prognostic marker in patients undergoing hepatectomy. In addition, weight changes can help guide multidisciplinary decision-making in treating patients undergoing hepatectomy.

Construction of individualised care programmes for patients with pancreatic cancer with postoperative weight-loss control based on the Delphi method: a cross-sectional study in China

BACKGROUND

At present, clinical nutritional care for patients with pancreatic cancer focuses more on the observation of the effect of enteral parenteral nutrition, and there is a lack of personalised care plans for weight-loss control. We used the Delphi method to construct a set of personalised nursing programmes to effectively control the rate of postoperative weight loss in patients with pancreatic cancer.

METHODS

This study was a cross-sectional investigation. Through literature analysis, literature review and data review, a personalised nursing plan for the postoperative weight-loss control in patients with pancreatic cancer was preliminarily developed. From October to December 2022, the Delphi method was adopted to conduct two questionnaires for 32 experts working in fields related to pancreatic diseases in Grade-A tertiary hospitals from four different departments. After statistical processing, the personalised nursing plan was determined according to the perceived level of importance, coefficient of variation, full score rate and recognition rate of the indicators.

RESULTS

The recovery rates of the two rounds of consultation were 93.75% and 100%, respectively, and the overall authority coefficient of the experts was 0.918, which represented 'authoritative'. In terms of importance, the coefficient of variation was 0-0.137; in terms of feasibility, the coefficient of variation ranged from 0.09 to 0.194. Finally, a scheme consisting of 36 entries in 8 dimensions was built. This programme is comprehensive in content, meets the nutritional diagnosis and treatment needs of patients in the stage of postoperative rehabilitation, provides relatively comprehensive nutritional assessment and support and has a robust system and feasibility.

CONCLUSIONS

The individualised nursing plan for patients with pancreatic cancer with postoperative weight-loss control based on the Delphi method is highly scientific and reliable and has positive significance.

Heterogeneity of weight loss and transcriptomic signatures in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma

BACKGROUND

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is highly associated with cachexia and weight loss, which is driven by the tumour's effect on the body. Data are lacking on differences in these metrics based on PDAC anatomic location. We hypothesize that the primary tumour's anatomic region influences the prevalence and severity of unintentional weight loss.

METHODS

Treatment naïve patients with PDAC who underwent pancreatectomy at a single institution between 2012 and 2020 were identified retrospectively. Patients with pancreatic head or distal tumours were matched by sex, age, N and T stage. Serologic and anthropometric variables were obtained at the time of diagnosis. Skeletal muscle index (SMI), muscle radiation attenuation (MRA) and adiposity were measured. The primary outcome was presence of significant weight loss [>5% body weight (BW) loss in past 6 months]. Signed rank tests, Cochran Mantel Haenszel tests and Kaplan-Meier survival analysis are presented. RNA-seq of tumours was performed to explore enriched pathways related to cachexia and weight loss.

RESULTS

Pancreatic head tumours (n = 24) were associated with higher prevalence (70.8% vs. 41.7%, P = 0.081) and degree of weight loss (7.9% vs. 2.5%, P = 0.014) compared to distal tumours (n = 24). BMI (P = 0.642), SMI (P = 0.738) and MRA (P = 0.478) were similar between groups. Combining BW loss, SMI and MRA into a composite score, patients with pancreatic head cancers met more criteria associated with poor prognosis (P = 0.142). Serum albumin (3.9 vs. 4.4 g/dL, P = 0.002) was lower and bilirubin (4.5 vs. 0.4 mg/dL, P < 0.001) were higher with pancreatic head tumours. Survival differed by tumour location (P = 0.014) with numerically higher median overall survival with distal tumours (11.1 vs. 21.8 months; P = 0.066). Transcriptomic analysis revealed inactivation of appetite stimulation, weight regulation and nutrient digestion/metabolism pathways in pancreatic head tumours.

CONCLUSIONS

Resectable pancreatic head PDAC is associated with higher prevalence of significant weight loss and more poor prognosis features. Pancreaticobiliary obstruction and hypoalbuminemia in patients with head tumours suggests compounding effects of nutrient malabsorption and systemic inflammation on molecular drivers of cachexia, possibly contributing to shorter survival. Therefore, PDAC-associated cachexia is a heterogenous syndrome, which may be influenced by the primary tumour location. Select patients with resectable pancreatic head tumours may benefit from nutritional rehabilitation to improve outcomes.

Cancer Diagnoses After Recent Weight Loss

Importance

Weight loss is common in primary care. Among individuals with recent weight loss, the rates of cancer during the subsequent 12 months are unclear compared with those without recent weight loss.

Objective

To determine the rates of subsequent cancer diagnoses over 12 months among health professionals with weight loss during the prior 2 years compared with those without recent weight loss.

Design, Setting, and Participants

Prospective cohort analysis of females aged 40 years or older from the Nurses' Health Study who were followed up from June 1978 until June 30, 2016, and males aged 40 years or older from the Health Professionals Follow-Up Study who were followed up from January 1988 until January 31, 2016.

Exposure

Recent weight change was calculated from the participant weights that were reported biennially. The intentionality of weight loss was categorized as high if both physical activity and diet quality increased, medium if only 1 increased, and low if neither increased.

Main Outcome and Measures

Rates of cancer diagnosis during the 12 months after weight loss.

Results

Among 157 474 participants (median age, 62 years [IQR, 54-70 years]; 111 912 were female [71.1%]; there were 2631 participants [1.7%] who self-identified as Asian, Native American, or Native Hawaiian; 2678 Black participants [1.7%]; and 149 903 White participants [95.2%]) and during 1.64 million person-years of follow-up, 15 809 incident cancer cases were identified (incident rate, 964 cases/100 000 person-years). During the 12 months after reported weight change, there were 1362 cancer cases/100 000 person-years among all participants with recent weight loss of greater than 10.0% of body weight compared with 869 cancer cases/100 000 person-years among those without recent weight loss (between-group difference, 493 cases/100 000 person-years [95% CI, 391-594 cases/100 000 person-years]; P < .001). Among participants categorized with low intentionality for weight loss, there were 2687 cancer cases/100 000 person-years for those with weight loss of greater than 10.0% of body weight compared with 1220 cancer cases/100 000 person-years for those without recent weight loss (between-group difference, 1467 cases/100 000 person-years [95% CI, 799-2135 cases/100 000 person-years]; P < .001). Cancer of the upper gastrointestinal tract (cancer of the esophagus, stomach, liver, biliary tract, or pancreas) was particularly common among participants with recent weight loss; there were 173 cancer cases/100 000 person-years for those with weight loss of greater than 10.0% of body weight compared with 36 cancer cases/100 000 person-years for those without recent weight loss (between-group difference, 137 cases/100 000 person-years [95% CI, 101-172 cases/100 000 person-years]; P < .001).

Conclusions and Relevance

Health professionals with weight loss within the prior 2 years had a significantly higher risk of cancer during the subsequent 12 months compared with those without recent weight loss. Cancer of the upper gastrointestinal tract was particularly common among participants with recent weight loss compared with those without recent weight loss.

Determining the feasibility of calculating pancreatic cancer risk scores for people with new-onset diabetes in primary care (DEFEND PRIME): study protocol

INTRODUCTION

Worldwide, pancreatic cancer has a poor prognosis. Early diagnosis may improve survival by enabling curative treatment. Statistical and machine learning diagnostic prediction models using risk factors such as patient demographics and blood tests are being developed for clinical use to improve early diagnosis. One example is the Enriching New-onset Diabetes for Pancreatic Cancer (ENDPAC) model, which employs patients' age, blood glucose and weight changes to provide pancreatic cancer risk scores. These values are routinely collected in primary care in the UK. Primary care's central role in cancer diagnosis makes it an ideal setting to implement ENDPAC but it has yet to be used in clinical settings. This study aims to determine the feasibility of applying ENDPAC to data held by UK primary care practices.

METHODS AND ANALYSIS

This will be a multicentre observational study with a cohort design, determining the feasibility of applying ENDPAC in UK primary care. We will develop software to search, extract and process anonymised data from 20 primary care providers' electronic patient record management systems on participants aged 50+ years, with a glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c) test result of ≥48 mmol/mol (6.5%) and no previous abnormal HbA1c results. Software to calculate ENDPAC scores will be developed, and descriptive statistics used to summarise the cohort's demographics and assess data quality. Findings will inform the development of a future UK clinical trial to test ENDPAC's effectiveness for the early detection of pancreatic cancer.

ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION

This project has been reviewed by the University of Surrey University Ethics Committee and received a favourable ethical opinion (FHMS 22-23151 EGA). Study findings will be presented at scientific meetings and published in international peer-reviewed journals. Participating primary care practices, clinical leads and policy makers will be provided with summaries of the findings.

The Roles and Interactions of Porphyromonas gingivalis and Fusobacterium nucleatum in Oral and Gastrointestinal Carcinogenesis: A Narrative Review

Epidemiological studies have spotlighted the intricate relationship between individual oral bacteria and tumor occurrence. Porphyromonas gingivalis and Fusobacteria nucleatum, which are known periodontal pathogens, have emerged as extensively studied participants with potential pathogenic abilities in carcinogenesis. However, the complex dynamics arising from interactions between these two pathogens were less addressed. This narrative review aims to summarize the current knowledge on the prevalence and mechanism implications of P. gingivalis and F. nucleatum in the carcinogenesis of oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC), colorectal cancer (CRC), and pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). In particular, it explores the clinical and experimental evidence on the interplay between P. gingivalis and F. nucleatum in affecting oral and gastrointestinal carcinogenesis. P. gingivalis and F. nucleatum, which are recognized as keystone or bridging bacteria, were identified in multiple clinical studies simultaneously. The prevalence of both bacteria species correlated with cancer development progression, emphasizing the potential impact of the collaboration. Regrettably, there was insufficient experimental evidence to demonstrate the synergistic function. We further propose a hypothesis to elucidate the underlying mechanisms, offering a promising avenue for future research in this dynamic and evolving field.

Elevated Glycated Haemoglobin (HbA1c) Is Associated with an Increased Risk of Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma: A UK Biobank Cohort Study

BACKGROUND

The role of dysglycaemia as a risk marker for Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is uncertain. We investigated the relationship between glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c) and incident PDAC using a retrospective cohort study within the UK Biobank.

METHODS

A study involving 499,804 participants from the UK Biobank study was undertaken. Participants were stratified by diabetes mellitus (DM) status, and then by HbA1c values < 42 mmol/mol, 42-47 mmol/mol, or ≥48 mmol/mol. Cox proportional hazard models were used to describe the association between HbA1c category (with time-varying interactions) and incident PDAC.

RESULTS

PDAC occurred in 1157 participants during 11.6 (10.9-12.3) years follow up [(median (interquartile range)]. In subjects without known DM at baseline, 12 months after recruitment, the adjusted hazard ratios (aHR, 95% CI) for incident PDAC for HbA1c 42-47 mmol/mol compared to HbA1c < 42 mmol/mol (reference group) was 2.10 (1.31-3.37, p = 0.002); and was 8.55 (4.58-15.99, p < 0.001) for HbA1c ≥ 48 mmol/mol. The association between baseline HbA1c and incident PDAC attenuated with increasing duration of time of follow-up to PDAC diagnosis.

CONCLUSIONS

Dysglycaemia detected by elevated HbA1c is associated with an increased risk of PDAC. The strength of the association between elevated HbA1c and incident PDAC is inversely proportional to the time from detecting dysglycaemia but remains significant for at least 60 months following HbA1c testing.

Adipose tissue and skeletal muscle wasting precede clinical diagnosis of pancreatic cancer

Patients with pancreatic cancer commonly develop weight loss and muscle wasting. Whether adipose tissue and skeletal muscle losses begin before diagnosis and the potential utility of such losses for earlier cancer detection are not well understood. We quantify skeletal muscle and adipose tissue areas from computed tomography (CT) imaging obtained 2 months to 5 years before cancer diagnosis in 714 pancreatic cancer cases and 1748 matched controls. Adipose tissue loss is identified up to 6 months, and skeletal muscle wasting is identified up to 18 months before the clinical diagnosis of pancreatic cancer and is not present in the matched control population. Tissue losses are of similar magnitude in cases diagnosed with localized compared with metastatic disease and are not correlated with at-diagnosis circulating levels of CA19-9. Skeletal muscle wasting occurs in the 1-2 years before pancreatic cancer diagnosis and may signal an upcoming diagnosis of pancreatic cancer.

Prognostic values of the prognostic nutritional index, geriatric nutritional risk index, and systemic inflammatory indexes in patients with stage IIB-III cervical cancer receiving radiotherapy

Background

Growing evidence suggests that nutritional status and inflammation are associated with survival in various cancers. This study aimed to evaluate the prognostic value of the prognostic nutritional index (PNI), geriatric nutritional risk index (GNRI), and systemic inflammatory indexes (neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio [NLR], monocyte/lymphocyte ratio [MLR], and platelet/lymphocyte ratio [PLR]) in patients with stage IIB-III cervical cancer receiving radiotherapy.

Results

The ideal cutoff values for the PNI, GNRI, NLR, MLR, and PLR were 48.3, 97.04, 2.8, 0.41, and 186.67, respectively. Low PNI and GNRI scores were associated with poor OS and PFS. High NLR, MLR, and PLR also predicted inferior 5-year OS and PFS rates in patients with stage IIB-III cervical cancer. Multivariate Cox regression analysis identified tumor size, histological type, stage, number of metastatic lymph nodes, PNI, GNRI, NLR, PLR, and MLR as significant prognostic factors for OS and PFS.

Conclusions

The current findings suggest that the PNI, GNRI, NLR, PLR, and MLR are essential parameters for predicting prognosis in patients with stage IIB-III cervical cancer receiving radiotherapy.

Obesity, diabetes mellitus, and pancreatic carcinogenesis: Correlations, prevention, and diagnostic implications

The prevalence of obesity, diabetes mellitus (DM), and pancreatic cancer (PC) has been consistently increasing in the last two decades worldwide. Sharing various influential risk factors in genetics and environmental inducers in pathogenesis, the close correlations of these three diseases have been demonstrated in plenty of clinical studies using multiple parameters among different populations. On the contrary, most measures aimed to manage and treat obesity and DM effectively reduce the risk and prevent PC occurrence, yet certain drugs can inversely promote pancreatic carcinogenesis instead. Most importantly, an elevation of blood glucose with or without a reduction in body weight, along with other potential tools, may provide valuable clues for detecting PC at an early stage in patients with obesity and DM, favoring a timely intervention and prolonging survival. Herein, the epidemiological and etiological correlations among these three diseases and the supporting clinical evidence of their connections are first summarized to favor a better and more thorough understanding of obesity- and DM-related pancreatic carcinogenesis. After comparing the distinct impacts of different weight-lowering and anti-diabetic treatments on the risk of PC, the possible diagnostic implications of hyperglycemia and weight loss in PC screening are also addressed in detail.

IDO1 Is a Therapeutic Target for Pancreatic Cancer-Associated Depression

Metabolites of tryptophan degradation are known to alter mood. Their effects have only been superficially examined in the context of pancreatic cancer. Herein, we study the role of indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase 1 (IDO1), an enzyme important in the conversion of tryptophan to kynurenine, in a murine model of pancreatic cancer-associated depression. Behavioral tests (open field, forced swim, tail suspension, and elevated plus maze) and biochemical assays (LC-MS metabolomics) were used to characterize a depressive-phenotype in tumor-bearing mice (relative to non-tumor-bearing mice). In addition, we determine whether pharmacologic blockade of IDO1 affects mood in tumor-bearing mice. Immunocompetent mice bearing orthotopic pancreatic tumors exhibit depressive-like behavior relative to non-tumor-bearing mice. Pancreatic tumors strongly express IDO1. Consequently, serum kynurenine levels in tumor-bearing mice are elevated relative to non-tumor-bearing mice. Tumor-bearing mice treated with epacadostat, an IDO1 inhibitor, exhibited improved mood relative to mice receiving vehicle. There was a 95% reduction in serum kynurenine levels in mice receiving epacadostat relative to mice treated with vehicle. As confirmatory evidence of on-target activity, tumors of mice treated with epacadostat exhibited a compensatory increase in IDO1 protein levels. Escitalopram, an approved antidepressant, was ineffective at improving mood in tumor-bearing mice as measured by behavioral assays and did not affect kynurenine levels. Neither epacadostat, nor escitalopram, affected overall survival relative to vehicle. Mice with pancreatic cancer exhibit depressive-like behavior. Epacadostat was effective as an antidepressant for pancreatic cancer-associated depression in mice. These data offer a rationale to consider IDO1 inhibition as a therapeutic strategy to mitigate depressive symptoms in patients with pancreatic cancer.

A preponderance of gastrointestinal cancer patients transition into cachexia syndrome

BACKGROUND

Cancer cachexia is frequently documented by self-reported, single time-point weight histories. This approach lacks the granularity needed to fully elucidate the progression of cachexia syndrome. This study aimed to longitudinally assess body weight changes pre- and post-cancer diagnosis in gastrointestinal (GI) cancer patients.

METHODS

Body weights and relevant clinical data recorded in the electronic health record 12 months pre- and post-GI cancer (colorectal, gastroesophageal, hepatobiliary and pancreatic) diagnosis were extracted. Weight loss was categorized by the International Consensus Definition for cachexia.

RESULTS

A total of 879 patients were included in the final cohort including patients diagnosed with colorectal (n = 317), hepatocellular (n = 185), biliary (n = 72), pancreatic (n = 186) or gastroesophageal (n = 119) cancer. Stage of disease was equally distributed. Patients without cachexia at diagnosis (n = 608) remained weight stable during the 12 months pre-diagnosis (+0.5 ± 0.5% body weight; P = 0.99). Patients with cachexia at diagnosis (n = 271) remained weight stable 6 to 12 months prior to diagnosis (+0.4 ± 0.8%; P > 0.9999) and lost 8.7 ± 0.6% (P < 0.0001) within the 6 months pre-diagnosis. Patients without cachexia at diagnosis lost more weight post-diagnosis (6.3 ± 0.6%) than patients with cachexia at diagnosis (4.7 ± 1.0%; P = 0.01). Pre-diagnosis weight trajectories did not differ between primary malignancies or stage of disease in patients without or with cachexia at diagnosis (all P ≥ 0.05). Post-diagnosis weight trajectories did differ by primary malignancy (P ≤ 0.0002) and stage (P < 0.0001). In both patients without and with cachexia at diagnosis, colorectal patients lost the least amount of weight post-diagnosis and gastroesophageal patients lost the most amount of weight post-diagnosis. Stage 4 patients without or with cachexia at diagnosis lost the most weight post-diagnosis (P ≤ 0.0003). Regardless of cachexia status at diagnosis, patients lost more weight when treated with systemic therapy (7.1 ± 0.7%; P < 0.0001; n = 419) or radiation therapy (8.4 ± 1.4%; P = 0.02; n = 116) compared to those who did not. Patients who did not have surgery lost more weight post-diagnosis (7.6 ± 1.1%; P < 0.0001; n = 355) compared to those who did have surgery. By 12 months post-diagnosis, 83% of the surviving GI cancer patients in this cohort had transitioned into cachexia syndrome.

CONCLUSIONS

Significant weight loss in patients with GI cancer cachexia at diagnosis initiates at least 6 months prior to diagnosis, and most patients will transition into cachexia syndrome post-diagnosis, regardless of pre-diagnosis weight change and stage of disease. These findings punctuate the importance of weight surveillance in cancer detection and earlier palliative interventions post-diagnosis in the GI cancer patient population.

Preoperative Rapid Weight Loss as a Prognostic Predictor After Surgical Resection for Pancreatic Cancer

OBJECTIVE

The aim of the study is to evaluate the influence of cachexia at the time of diagnosis of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) on prognosis in patients undergoing surgical resection.

METHODS

Patients with data on preoperative body weight (BW) change followed by surgical resection during 2008-2017 were selected. Large BW loss was defined as weight loss >5% or >2% in individuals with body mass index less than 20 kg/m2 within 1 year preoperatively. Influence of large BW loss, ΔBW defined as preoperative BW change (%) per month, prognostic nutrition index, and indices of sarcopenia.

RESULTS

We evaluated 165 patients with PDAC. Preoperatively, 78 patients were categorized as having large BW loss. ΔBW was ≤ -1.34% per month (rapid) and > -1.34% per month (slow) in 95 and 70 patients, respectively. The median postoperative overall survival of rapid and slow ΔBW groups was 1.4 and 4.4 years, respectively (P < 0.001). In multivariate analyses rapid ΔBW (hazard ratio [HR], 3.88); intraoperative blood loss ≥430 mL (HR, 1.89); tumor size ≥2.9 cm (HR, 1.74); and R1/2 resection (HR, 1.77) were independent predictors of worse survival.

CONCLUSIONS

Preoperative rapid BW loss ≥1.34% per month was an independent predictor of worse survival of patients with PDAC.

BMI and HbA1c are metabolic markers for pancreatic cancer: Matched case-control study using a UK primary care database

Background

Weight loss, hyperglycaemia and diabetes are known features of pancreatic cancer. We quantified the timing and the amount of changes in body mass index (BMI) and glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c), and their association with pancreatic cancer from five years before diagnosis.

Methods

A matched case-control study was undertaken within 590 primary care practices in England, United Kingdom. 8,777 patients diagnosed with pancreatic cancer (cases) between 1^st January 2007 and 31^st August 2020 were matched to 34,979 controls by age, gender and diabetes. Longitudinal trends in BMI and HbA1c were visualised. Odds ratios adjusted for demographic and lifestyle factors (aOR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were calculated with conditional logistic regression. Subgroup analyses were undertaken according to the diabetes status.

Results

Changes in BMI and HbA1c observed for cases on longitudinal plots started one and two years (respectively) before diagnosis. In the year before diagnosis, a 1 kg/m² decrease in BMI between cases and controls was associated with aOR for pancreatic cancer of 1.05 (95% CI 1.05 to 1.06), and a 1 mmol/mol increase in HbA1c was associated with aOR of 1.06 (1.06 to 1.07). ORs remained statistically significant (p < 0.001) for 2 years before pancreatic cancer diagnosis for BMI and 3 years for HbA1c. Subgroup analysis revealed that the decrease in BMI was associated with a higher pancreatic cancer risk for people with diabetes than for people without (aORs 1.08, 1.06 to 1.09 versus 1.04, 1.03 to 1.05), but the increase in HbA1c was associated with a higher risk for people without diabetes than for people with diabetes (aORs 1.09, 1.07 to 1.11 versus 1.04, 1.03 to 1.04).

Conclusions

The statistically significant changes in weight and glycaemic control started three years before pancreatic cancer diagnosis but varied according to the diabetes status. The information from this study could be used to detect pancreatic cancer earlier than is currently achieved. However, regular BMI and HbA1c measurements are required to facilitate future research and implementation in clinical practice.

Measured weight loss as a precursor to cancer diagnosis: retrospective cohort analysis of 43 302 primary care patients

BACKGROUND

Unexpected weight loss is a presenting feature of cancer in primary care. Data from primary care are lacking to quantify how much weight loss over what period should trigger further investigation for cancer. This research aimed to quantify cancer diagnosis rates associated with measured weight change in people attending primary care.

METHODS

Retrospective cohort study of primary care electronic health records data linked to the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results cancer registry (Integrated healthcare delivery system in Washington State, United States). Multivariable Cox regression incorporating time varying covariates using splines to model non-linear associations (age, percentage weight change, and weight change interval). Fifty thousand randomly selected patients aged 40 years and over followed for up to 9 years (1 January 2006 to 31 December 2014). Outcome measures are hazard ratios (95% confidence intervals) to quantify the association between percentage weight change and cancer diagnosis for all cancers combined, individual cancer sites and stages; percentage risk of cancer diagnosis within 6 months of the end of each weight change episode; and the positive predictive value for cancer diagnosis.

RESULTS

There were 43 302 included in the analysis after exclusions. Over 287 858 patient-years of follow-up, including 24 272 (56.1%) females, 23 980 (55.4%) aged 40 to 59 years, 15 113 (34.9%) 60 to 79 years, and 4209 (9.7%) aged 80 years and over. Adjusted hazard ratios (95% confidence interval) for cancer diagnosis in a 60 years old ranged from 1.04 (1.02 to 1.05, P < 0.001) for 1% weight loss to 1.44 (1.23 to 1.68, P < 0.001) for 10%. An independent linear association was observed between percentage weight loss and increasing cancer risk. The absolute risk of cancer diagnosis increased with increasing age (up to 85 years) and as the weight change measurement interval decreased (<1 year). The positive predictive value for a cancer diagnosis within 1 year of ≥5% measured weight loss in a 60 to 69 years old was 3.41% (1.57% to 6.37%) in men and 3.47% (1.68% to 6.29%) in women. The risk of cancer diagnosis was significantly increased for pancreatic, myeloma, gastro-oesophageal, colorectal, breast, stage II and IV cancers.

CONCLUSIONS

Weight loss is a sign of undiagnosed cancer regardless of the interval over which it occurs. Guidelines should resist giving an arbitrary cut-off for the interval of weight loss and focus on the percentage of weight loss and the patient's age. Future studies should focus on the association between diagnostic evaluation of weight change and risk of cancer mortality.

Is Weight Loss During Chemotherapy for Pancreatic Cancer Prognostic?

BACKGROUND

Predicting poor survival outcomes early in palliative chemotherapy is important to the timing of palliative care. Weight loss during chemotherapy if prognostic would lead to early palliative care.

METHOD

We collected demographics, stage, chemotherapy, chemotherapy cycles, weight, healthcare utilization, comorbidities (Charleson Comorbid Index), tumor markers, and weight changes over 60 days. We defined 3 groups of patients: 1. Weight gain to <.5% weight loss, 2. Weight loss< 2% and 3. Weight loss of >2%. A Chi-square test assessed differences in weight during treatment. Time-to-event analysis was expressed in a Kaplan Meier curve.

RESULTS

93 individuals died of pancreatic cancer in 2018 and 2019. The median age was 71.2 years. Forty-three had stage I and II, 40 stages III and IV cancers, and 10 had unknown stages. Most received FOLFIRINOX and gemcitabine/nab-paclitaxel chemotherapy. Thirty-six gained to lost < .5% during chemotherapy,8 lost < 2% and 49 patients lost > 2% of their weight. Mortality was available in 55 of 93 patients. Median survival was 16.6 months in those with weight gain to < .5% weight loss, 17.28 months for those with < 2% weight loss, and 20.5 months for those with > 2% weight loss (P = .42).

DISCUSSION

Weight loss over 60 days did not predict a poor prognosis in this small retrospective study; larger prospective studies may clarify the prognostic importance of weight loss during chemotherapy.

CONCLUSION

In this small retrospective study, weight loss over 60 days did not predict poor survival.

Time to Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy Initiation Is not Associated With Survival in Pancreatic Cancer

INTRODUCTION

Not all patients with pancreatic adenocarcinoma (PDAC) tolerate multiagent neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC). We utilized institutional data and the National Cancer Database (NCDB) to investigate if time from diagnosis to NAC initiation is associated with survival.

METHODS

Patients who received NAC and underwent pancreatectomy at our institution (2010-2021) or within the NCDB (2010-2016) were identified. Time from diagnosis to NAC was grouped: <21, 21-35, and >35 d. Recurrence-free (RFS) and overall survival (OS) was compared.

RESULTS

At our institution, 122 patients received NAC before pancreatectomy (<21 d: n = 36; 21-35 d: n = 61; >35 d: n = 25). Demographics, performance status, and anatomic resectability were similar. There was no difference in RFS (13.3 versus 12.4 versus 11.9 mo) or OS (26.7 versus 25.8 versus 26.1 mo) based on NAC timing. Patients who received FOLFIRINOX had an improvement in RFS (14.4 versus 12.2 versus 6.8 mo, P = 0.05) and OS (39.2 versus 21.4 versus 17.3 mo, P = 0.01) compared to gemcitabine with nab-paclitaxel or other regimens. Within the NCDB, 6713 patients were included (<21 d: n = 2087; 21-35 d: n = 2656; >35 d: n = 1970). There was no difference in OS (21.6 versus 20.9 versus 22.2 mo). Multiagent NAC was associated with improved OS compared to single-agent (22.6 versus 18.8 mo, P < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

Delay in NAC initiation for PDAC is not associated with survival. Patient optimization could be considered with the goal of improving tolerance of multiagent chemotherapy.

Clinical and Imaging Predictors of Pancreatic Cancer in Patients Hospitalized for Acute Pancreatitis

Background and Aims

Identifying factors associated with increased short-term risk of pancreatic cancer in the setting of acute pancreatitis (AP) can inform clinical care decisions and expedite cancer diagnosis.

Methods

A retrospective cohort study of patients hospitalized for AP between 2007 and 2017 in an integrated health-care system in Southern California. AP cases were identified by diagnosis code with laboratory confirmation. Multivariable Cox proportional hazards regression model was used to assess risk of pancreatic cancer within 3 years of AP, adjusting for patient demographics, clinical parameters (body mass index, AP etiology, chronic pancreatitis, diabetes) and radiographic imaging features.

Results

Among 9,490 patients hospitalized with AP, the mean (standard deviation) age was 55.8 (17.8) years, 55% were women, and 42% were Hispanic. Majority of AP cases were biliary (64%), 12% were alcohol-related, 5% were hypertriglyceridemia-induced, and 19% were other/unknown etiology. Ninety-five (1%) patients were diagnosed with pancreatic cancer within 3 years of AP (4.2 cases/1000 person-years). Risk factors for pancreatic cancer were age ≥65 years (hazard risk [HR]: 2.5, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.2-5.3), male sex (HR: 1.9, 95% CI: 1.2-2.8), Asian/Pacific Islander race (HR: 2.0, 95% CI: 1.1-3.6), and underweight body mass index (HR: 2.6, 95% CI: 1.1-6.5). In addition, other/unknown AP etiology (HR: 2.0, 95% CI: 1.3-3.1) and dilatation of the main pancreatic duct (HR: 6.6, 95% CI: 4.2-10.5) were independently associated with increased risk of pancreatic cancer.

Conclusion

In addition to older age, the lack of well-established etiology, underweight body habitus, and main pancreatic duct dilatation were independently associated with increased short-term risk of pancreatic cancer among patients hospitalized for AP.

Weight Tracking as a Novel Prognostic Marker After Pancreatectomy

BACKGROUND

Objective measures of post-pancreatectomy weight change for pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) have not been extensively studied for long-term outcomes. We used weight measurements in our institutional medical record to analyze trends in post-pancreatectomy weight and determine the association with disease status.

METHODS

Pancreatectomies for PDAC (n = 315) and benign indications (n = 111) were identified. Preoperative baseline, minimum postoperative (Min #1), and subsequent postoperative maximum (Max) weights were abstracted. Multivariable Cox hazards regression was conducted to analyze the association between weight change and survival.

RESULTS

Median weight loss postoperatively in each group was > 20 lbs. PDAC patients gained 10 lbs after Min #1 compared to 15 lbs in the benign cohort (p < 0.001). Few patients returned to their preoperative weight (29.8% PDAC vs. 40.5% benign, p = 0.04). Patients with early PDAC recurrence (< 13 months) lost more weight (18.0% vs. 13.3% vs. 10.9%, p < 0.001) and gained less weight (2.1% vs. 12.0% vs. 7.9%, p < 0.001) compared with those with late cancer recurrence (≥ 13 months) or no evidence of active disease, respectively. PDAC patients lost 11.2 lbs in the year preceding recurrence diagnosis. Weight loss was not associated with survival; however, weight gain was associated with improved survival.

CONCLUSIONS

Resections for PDAC are complicated by a similar degree of weight loss as patients with benign disease, and there is no association with survival. However, failure to gain weight is especially ominous. Weight loss after weight recovery foreshadows disease recurrence. These data suggest that rigorous weight tracking is an untapped surveillance strategy in patients with PDAC.

Weight loss during neoadjuvant therapy for pancreatic cancer does not predict poor outcomes

BACKGROUND

Weight changes during neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) for pancreatic cancer (PDAC) are not well studied. We hypothesized that weight loss may predict poor outcomes.

METHODS

Weight change from NAC initiation to pancreatectomy was grouped: gain (≥5%), stable, and loss (≥5%). Pathologic, postoperative, and survival outcomes were compared.

RESULTS

95 patients were included: 31.6% lost weight, 58.9% maintained weight, and 9.5% gained weight. There were no differences in chemotherapeutic regimens. Median recurrence-free survival (RFS) and overall survival (OS) were similar between patients with stable weight and those who lost weight (RFS: 9.6vs14.0months; OS: 25.8vs26.7months). Among those who gained weight, RFS (29.5months) and OS (38.4months) were greater relative to the other weight categories. On multivariable regression, weight gain was associated with improved RFS compared to loss (HR = 0.16).

CONCLUSION

Most patients maintain or lose weight during NAC, and weight loss does not predict poor outcomes. Weight gain may predict improved RFS.

A Propensity-Matched Analysis of the Postoperative Venous Thromboembolism Rate After Pancreatoduodenectomy Based on Operative Approach

BACKGROUND

The use of minimally invasive approaches for pancreatoduodenectomy has increased in recent years, but the risk of postoperative VTE is undefined. We aimed to compare venous thromboembolism (VTE) rates after open and minimally invasive pancreatoduodenectomy using an administrative dataset.

METHODS

Patients who underwent pancreatoduodenectomy within the National Surgical Quality Improvement Program targeted pancreatectomy database (2016-2018) were identified. VTE was compared between patients who underwent open or minimally invasive pancreatoduodenectomy directly and after propensity score matching 1:1 for demographics, comorbidities, and peri-/intra-operative factors.

RESULTS

A total of 12,227 patients underwent pancreatoduodenectomy during the study period (open: n = 11,217; minimally invasive: n = 1010). Before matching, the VTE rate was higher among patients who underwent minimally invasive pancreatoduodenectomy (5.2% vs. 3.8%, p = 0.033), and minimally invasive resection was independently associated with VTE (OR = 1.46, 95%CI = 1.09-2.06). After matching, there were 916 patients per group without differences in demographics or comorbidities. Patients who underwent minimally invasive pancreatoduodenectomy had longer median operative times (422 vs. 348 min). The VTE rate remained higher following minimally invasive pancreatoduodenectomy after matching (5.1% vs. 2.9%, p = 0.018), mainly driven by a higher DVT rate (3.9% vs. 1.7%, p = 0.005).

CONCLUSIONS

Minimally invasive pancreatoduodenectomy is associated with a higher postoperative VTE rate compared to open pancreatoduodenectomy.

Pancreatic cancer: branched-chain amino acids as putative key metabolic regulators?

Branched-chain amino acids (BCAA) are essential amino acids utilized in anabolic and catabolic metabolism. While extensively studied in obesity and diabetes, recent evidence suggests an important role for BCAA metabolism in cancer. Elevated plasma levels of BCAA are associated with an increased risk of developing pancreatic cancer, namely pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC), a tumor with one of the highest 1-year mortality rates. The dreadful prognosis for PDAC patients could be attributable also to the early and frequent development of cancer cachexia, a fatal host metabolic reprogramming leading to muscle and adipose wasting. We propose that BCAA dysmetabolism is a unifying component of several pathological conditions, i.e., obesity, insulin resistance, and PDAC. These conditions are mutually dependent since PDAC ranks among cancers tightly associated with obesity and insulin resistance. It is also well-established that PDAC itself can trigger insulin resistance and new-onset diabetes. However, the exact link between BCAA metabolism, development of PDAC, and tissue wasting is still unclear. Although tissue-specific intracellular and systemic metabolism of BCAA is being intensively studied, unresolved questions related to PDAC and cancer cachexia remain, namely, whether elevated circulating BCAA contribute to PDAC etiology, what is the biological background of BCAA elevation, and what is the role of adipose tissue relative to BCAA metabolism during cancer cachexia. To cover those issues, we provide our view on BCAA metabolism at the intracellular, tissue, and whole-body level, with special emphasis on different metabolic links to BCAA intermediates and the role of insulin in substrate handling.