Research Internship Nutricion en Pancreatic oncology

Research Internship - Nutricion and Pancreatic Cancer

Pancreatic cancer is an aggressive malignancy with an overall 5-year survival rate of 10%. The standard approach for resectable pancreatic cancer includes surgery followed by adjuvant chemotherapy. In the past years, the PREOPANC studies have provided valuable insights into the optimal sequencing of therapies with neoadjuvant chemotherapy potentially improving overall survival.

 

Many patients with pancreatic cancer suffer from a poor nutritional status due to altered metabolism, malabsorption because of exocrine pancreatic insufficiency, and poor nutritional intake. Body composition parameters as skeletal muscle mass, muscle attenuation and adipose tissue are associated with postoperative complications and prognosis. However, it is not yet clear whether changes in body composition during neoadjuvant therapy affect clinical outcomes in patients with pancreatic cancer. In this study, we will assess the relationship between changes in body composition during neoadjuvant therapy and clinical outcomes in patients with pancreatic cancer undergoing pancreatoduodenectomy.

 

Data are retrieved from the dataset of the Dutch Pancreatic Cancer Group (DPCG). Body composition is assessed by measuring the cross-sectional area of a single slice CT abdomen at the level of the third lumbar vertebra. 

If you are interested in doing a research Internship in this subject, you can ask for more information or if you want to apply you can mail Claudia Lucassen, c.j.lucassen@lumc.nl.