Leads:  Dr. John Paul McGhie, Jacob Lemire    

 
 

A dedicated research team—comprising registered dietitians, pharmacists, and oncologists at BC Cancer -Victoria—is currently conducting a pilot study to assess the efficacy of the pancreatic enzyme replacement therapy (PERT) tool, a decision making tool, in identifying and managing pancreatic enzyme insufficiency (PEI) in pancreatic cancer (PC) patients.  

Study Background & Rationale:

Background: PC patients often suffer from malabsorptive symptoms from PEI that can impact their nutrition status including weight loss, diarrhea, steatorrhea, post-prandial abdominal pain, bloating, and gas putting them at high nutritional risk. Malnutrition and PEI are common for these patients and linked to poorer survival, treatment response, and quality of life. PERT can reduce symptoms of PEI. Despite this, PERT is often under prescribed and under dosed. Studies have shown that referral to an experienced Registered Dietitian (RD) was strongly associated with PERT use. 

 
 

Study Objectives:

Does clinician guided assessment of PEI using the BC Cancer PERT Tool correlate with pancreatic elastase 1 stool test in the identification of PEI in all:

  1. inoperable PC patients and
  2. PC patients undergoing neoadjuvant chemotherapy at BC Cancer – Victoria? 
 

 

Methodology: 

Eligible participants receive nutrition assessment consultations and follow-up appointments with the RD, provide stool samples at specific intervals for analysis, and complete a series of standardized questionnaires.
 

By the end of the study, up to 40 eligible patients will have received a nutrition consultation with a RD, during which the PERT Tool will have been used to assess for PEI and guide appropriate management.
 

 

Impact Goal:

The results of the study will contribute to the evidence for optimal nutrition care of PC patients undergoing treatment and serve as a basis for future research in this area at BC Cancer – Victoria. 

Furthermore, this project will promote inter-professional collaboration at the centre in developing a standardized protocol of PERT for PC patients. 

Knowledge Translation Resources

What is the Pancreatic Elastase-1 Stool Test?

This test offers a non-invasive method for evaluating pancreatic function. It measures the level of the enzyme, elastase-1 in a stool sample and low levels may suggest pancreatic enzyme insufficiency.
It is not a routine test at BC Cancer for PC patients.
 

Questions?

If you are interested in participating in this work or would like to learn more, please contact Clinical Coordinator of Nutrition of BCC-Victoria, Jacob Lemire at jacob.lemire1@bccancer.bc.ca.

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