Metabolic assessment to improve outcomes in patients with non-metastatic pancreatic cancer

A2003300

Pancreatic cancer survival remains very poor, with only about 10% of patients living five years after diagnosis. Metabolic abnormalities including abnormal sugar levels (dysglycaemia), altered energy use, and changes in fat metabolism are common in these patients and linked to worse outcomes. However, current tests to assess these issues—such as HbA1c for blood sugar and estimated energy needs—are unreliable in the context of pancreatic cancer.

This study aims to test whether advanced metabolic monitoring technologies routinely used in diabetes care, including continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) and indirect calorimetry (to measure energy expenditure), can be feasibly and acceptably used in patients undergoing pancreatic cancer surgery. The project will compare data from these technologies to standard assessments and explore relationships between metabolic profiles and surgical outcomes.
Findings will inform the design of future trials investigating whether improving metabolic assessment and targeted metabolic treatments can improve survival and recovery in pancreatic cancer patients.

Lead Researcher	Dr Lestyn Shapey  Consultant Pancreatic Surgeon
Co-Researchers	Professor David Jayne Professor Ramzi Aijan   Professor Deborah Stocken
Host Organisation	Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust
Grant Amount	£49,938.00
Start Date	01/05/2025
Estimated Duration	18 months
Impact Areas	Innovation & Health Technologies
Tags/key notes	Cancer and neoplasms