Amino Acid Analyses in Pancreatic Adenocarcinoma

Pancreatic cancer is a malignancy with an especially high mortality and morbidity. Malnutrition is observed in the majority of pancreatic cancer patients and is characterized by increased prevalence of sarcopenic obesity in the early cancer stages, while pancreatic exocrine insufficiency, obstructive jaundice and cachexia are frequently encountered during the late stages. Based on current recommendations, evaluation of nutritional status may not be sufficient in pancreatic cancer patients. Determination of requirements for protein and amino acids of cancer patients are mostly based on research in healthy popul ation and do not take into account changes in the metabolism of cancer and the whole body. Metabolic reprogramming - one of the hallmarks of cancer and determinants of cancerogenesis. Currently, reprogramming of energy and glutamine metabol ism are the most extensively characterized metabolic oncogenic allerations, while changes in the metabolism of other amino acids and met abol ites may be as much important but underinvestigated. Metabolic cancer phenotyping allows for early and more precise diagnostics, prognostication and search for the new therapeulic targets. Amino acids comprise a small, but significant part of metabolome. Amino acid analyses improve evaluation of nutritional status and treatment of malnutrition in cancer. Also, these analyses can be of high importance for metabolic cancer phenotyping, early diagnostics and prognostication.