P034 - IMPACT OF MALNUTRITION ON TREATMENT TOLERANCE AND EFFICACY IN PATIENTS WITH PANCREATIC CANCER

P034

IMPACT OF MALNUTRITION ON TREATMENT TOLERANCE AND EFFICACY IN PATIENTS WITH PANCREATIC CANCER

R. Chakir¹, A. boutaina^1,², S. harbaj¹, I. Lahlali¹, L. amine¹, N. karima¹, H. El¹, T. kebdani^1,*, K. Hassouni¹

¹radiation therapy, national institute of oncology, ²Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy of Rabat, Mohammed V univeristy, rabat, Morocco

Rationale: Malnutrition is common among patients with pancreatic cancer due to malabsorption, tumor-induced anorexia, and cancer cachexia. It may compromise treatment tolerance and reduce therapeutic efficacy. This study aimed to assess the impact of malnutrition on treatment course and clinical outcomes in this population.

Methods:

This is a retrospective descriptive study conducted at the radiation therapy department in the Rabat National Institute of oncology, over a period of 5 years starting from December 2019 and ending in december 2024, including15 patients who underwent concomitant neoadjuvant radiochemotherapy radiotherapy .

Clinical, nutritional (BMI, weight loss, albumin levels), and therapeutic data (toxicities, treatment interruptions, tumor response) were analyzed. Patients were classified according to their nutritional status at treatment initiation.

Results: In our case series, the female sex was more prevalent. Additionally, 44% of patients had type 2 diabetes. Tumor location was predominantly in the head of the pancreas (77.77%).Regarding treatment, 66% of patients received a radiotherapy dose of 50.4 Gy, while 44% received a total dose of 54 Gy.

48.6% of patients were malnourished at diagnosis, and 35% had experienced more than a 10% weight loss over the preceding 6 months.

Malnourished patients expressed significantly higher rates of grade ≥3 toxicities (52% vs. 29%). including more severe hematologic side effects, such as severe neutropenia, which increases the risk of life-threatening infections due to an impaired immune system. Kidney dysfunction was also more frequent in malnourished patients.

Conclusion: Malnutrition is an independent predictive factor for poor treatment tolerance and reduced therapeutic efficacy in pancreatic cancer. Early nutritional assessment and targeted support are essential to improve treatment outcomes in this high-risk population.

Disclosure of Interest: None declared