Prognostic Significance of Sarcopenia and Eicosapentaenoic Acid (EPA) Levels in Patients With Unresectable Pancreatic or Biliary Tract Cancer.

BACKGROUND/AIM: This study aimed to investigate the relationship between prechemotherapy blood eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) levels, sarcopenia, and overall survival in patients with pancreatic and biliary tract cancer undergoing chemotherapy.

PATIENTS AND METHODS: Forty-five patients with recurrent, non-resected pancreatic or biliary tract cancer undergoing chemotherapy were retrospectively analyzed. The skeletal muscle mass was measured at the third lumbar vertebra. Sarcopenia cut-off values were based on the Japanese Society of Hepatology sarcopenia assessment criteria. Two months after starting chemotherapy, the patients received enteral nutrition containing omega-3 fatty acids.

RESULTS: Patients with pancreatic and biliary tract cancers with low pre-treatment blood EPA levels had significantly more intense sarcopenia than those with high EPA levels (p=0.023). Patients with sarcopenia before chemotherapy had significantly lower overall survival than those without sarcopenia. Multivariate analysis revealed blood EPA concentration as an independent prognostic factor (p<0.01). Lumbar muscle volume, a marker of sarcopenia, showed a clear positive correlation with prechemotherapy EPA concentration (p=0.008). In patients administered with enteral nutrition containing omega-3 fatty acids, both EPA concentration and lumbar muscle volume were significantly higher than those prior to intervention, indicating sarcopenia improvement due to the intervention.

CONCLUSION: In patients with recurrent non-resected pancreatic and biliary tract cancer, low blood EPA levels before chemotherapy are associated with sarcopenia and poor prognosis.