Dose optimization of pancreatic enzyme replacement therapy is essential to mitigate muscle loss in patients with advanced pancreatic cancer and exocrine pancreatic insufficiency

Exocrine pancreatic insufficiency (EPI) contributes to malnutrition, marked by muscle loss during chemotherapy for advanced pancreatic cancer (aPC). Pancreatic enzyme replacement therapy (PERT) is recommended for patients with EPI; however, it's efficacy for attenuating muscle loss has not been demonstrated. We aimed to delineate the impact of PERT dose on muscle loss using a 7-year population-based cohort with aPC who were provided PERT at the discretion of their oncologist or dietitian according to clinical indications of EPI. All patients treated with chemotherapy for aPC from 2013 to 2019 in Alberta, Canada (population ∼4.3 million) were included if they had computed tomography (CT) scans both prior to and 12 ± 4 weeks after chemotherapy initiation. Change in muscle area (cm2) was measured at 3rd lumbar level on repeated CT scans. Muscle loss was defined by measurement error (loss >2.3 cm2). Clinical and pharmaceutical data were retrieved from provincial registries. For patients who were dispensed PERT -8 to +6 weeks from chemo start (PERT users), estimated dose consumed per day was calculated as: (total dose dispensed) / (days, first to last dispensation). PERT users were categorized as high dose or low dose users according to the median estimated dose consumed. Non-users were classified as No PERT. Association between PERT use and muscle loss was analyzed with multivariable logistic regression. Among 210 patients, 81 (39%) were PERT users. Median estimated dose consumed per day of 75 000 USP lipase units defined the cutoff between low dose and high dose uses. There were no significant differences in baseline characteristics between high dose and low dose groups. Muscle loss was more prevalent among low dose compared to both high dose and No PERT groups (88% vs. 58% and 67%, p