Prof. Maurizio Muscaritoli
Presentation Roadmap/ Summary
- Cancer has a negative impact on nutritional status and body composition.
- Progressive weight loss and body mass index reduction are independent predictors of increased mortality.
- Pathogenesis of cancer-related weight loss and cachexia is multifactorial and may depend on the disease itself and/or the side effects of antineoplastic treatments.
- The aim of this presentation is to show that cancer patients may be at risk of malnutrition or malnourished even at first medical oncology visit i.e. even before undergoing radio-chemotherapy.
Learning Objectives
At the conclusion of the presentation, the participant will be able to:
- Understand the pathophysiology and impact of cancer-related malnutrition
- Recognize the components of impaired nutritional status in cancer
- Identify those cancer patients in those nutritional surveillance and treatment should be prioritized
Key Takeaways/ Fast Facts
- Malnutrition has a deleterious impact on cancer patients’ prognosis
- A significant number of cancer patients is at risk of malnutrition or already malnourished at first medical oncology visit, i. e. even before undergoing radio-chemotherapy
- Prevalence of malnutrition at first medical oncology visit depends on tumor type
Key references
- Muscaritoli M, Lucia S, Farcomeni A, Lorusso V, Saracino V, Barone C et al. Prevalence of malnutrition in patients at first medical oncology visit: the PreMiO study. Oncotarget. 2017;8:79884-96
- Hebuterne X, Lemarie E, Michallet M, de Montreuil CB, Schneider SM, Goldwasser F. Prevalence of malnutrition and current use of nutrition support in patients with cancer. JPEN J Parenter Enteral Nutr. 2014; 38:196-204
- Martin L, Senesse P, Gioulbasanis I, Antoun S, Bozzetti F, Deans C et al. Diagnostic criteria for theclassification of cancer-associated weight loss. J Clin Oncol. 2015;33:90-9.
