Evaluation of Nutritional Status and the Impact of Nutritional Treatment in Patients with Pancreatic Cancer

SIMPLE SUMMARY: Malnutrition, cachexia, and sarcopenia are very common problems in PC patients and are associated with an increased risk of chemotherapy-related toxicity, shorter survival, and reduced quality of life (QoL). Approximately 80% of PC patients report weight loss at diagnosis, and 70.3% of patients develop malnutrition during chemotherapy (CT). Early diagnosis of nutritional problems is the first key point in the proper management of nutritional treatment in patients with pancreatic cancer. Healthcare managers, healthcare professionals, PC patients, and their families should be aware of the importance of nutritional status and the role of nutritional management in clinical outcomes and the quality of life of PC patients. ABSTRACT: Patients with pancreatic cancer who develop irreversible cancer cachexia have a life expectancy of less than 3 months. Therefore, it is extremely important to evaluate the patient’s nutritional status as early as possible and to implement an appropriate nutritional intervention in order to reduce the risk of further weight loss and/or muscle loss, which affect the outcomes of cancer treatment and the correct nutritional treatment in patients with pancreatic cancer. A literature review was performed by using the PubMed and Cochrane quick search methodology. The main purpose of this review was to present the current approach to nutritional treatment in pancreatic cancer. The review included publications, most of which concerned clinical nutrition as part of the phase of treatment of patients with pancreatic cancer, nutritional and metabolic disorders in pancreatic cancer, and the period after pancreatic resection. Some of the publications concerned various nutritional interventions in patients with pancreatic cancer undergoing chemotherapy or surgical treatment (nutritional support before surgery, after surgery, or during palliative treatment). There is an unmet need for integrated nutritional therapy as a key part of the comprehensive care process for PC patients. Nutritional counseling is the first line of nutritional treatment for malnourished cancer patients, but pancreatic enzyme replacement therapy also constitutes the cornerstone of nutritional treatment for relieving symptoms of indigestion and maintaining or improving nutritional status.