Background/Objectives: Cancer and related treatments can impair body composition (BC), increasing the risk of malnutrition and sarcopenia, poor prognosis, and Health-Related Quality of Life (HRQoL). To enhance BC parameter interpretation through Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis (BIA), we developed a predictive model based on unsupervised approaches including Principal Component Analysis (PCA) and k-means clustering for sarcopenia risk in cancer patients at the Istituto Nazionale Tumori IRCCS “Fondazione G. Pascale” (Naples). Methods: Sarcopenia and malnutrition risks were assessed using the NRS-2002 and SARC-F questionnaires, anthropometric measurements, and BIA. HRQoL was evaluated with the EORTC QLQ-C30 questionnaire. PCA and clustering analysis were performed to identify different BC profiles. Results: Data from 879 cancer patients (mean age: 63 ± 12.5 years) were collected: 117 patients (13%) and 128 (15%) were at risk of malnutrition and sarcopenia, respectively. PCA analysis identified three main components, and k-means determined three clusters, namely HMP (High Muscle Profile), MMP (Moderate Muscle Profile), and LMP (Low Muscle Profile). Patients in LMP were older, with a higher prevalence of comorbidities, malnutrition, and sarcopenia. In the multivariable analysis, age, lung cancer site, diabetes, and malnutrition risk were significantly associated with an increased risk of sarcopenia; among the clusters, patients in LMP had an increased risk of sarcopenia (+62%, p = 0.006). Conclusions: The NUTRISCREEN project, part of the ONCOCAMP study (ClinicalTrials.gov ID: NCT06270602), provides a personalized nutritional pathway for early screening of malnutrition and sarcopenia. Using an unsupervised approach, we provide distinct BC profiles and valuable insights into the factors associated with sarcopenia risk. This approach in clinical practice could help define risk categories, ensure the most appropriate nutritional strategies, and improve patient outcomes by providing data-driven care.

Health-related quality of life (HRQoL) represents one of the most concerning aspects for cancer patients. The Healthy Eating Index (HEI) is an a priori diet quality index directly associated with health outcomes and HRQoL in cancer survivors in North American populations. We evaluated, in a Mediterranean population, the baseline associations between HEI-2015 and HRQoL in 492 women with breast cancer recruited in a DEDiCa lifestyle trial. Dietary data were obtained from 7-day food records; HRQoL was assessed through the European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire Core 30 (EORTC QLQ C30) and the C30 Summary Score (SumSc). Analysis of variance and multivariable linear and log-gamma regression models were performed. Mean and standard deviation for HEI-2015 score was 68.8 ± 11.2; SumSc was 81.5 ± 12.9. Women with lower HEI-2015 score had higher BMI, were more frequently exposed to tobacco smoke and had fewer years of education. Patients with a HEI-2015 score greater than 68.7 (median value) showed a significant increase in SumSc of 4% (p = 0.02). HEI-2015 components also associated with SumSc were beans and greens (β = 1.04; p = 0.02). Weak associations were found for total vegetables and saturated fats. Higher diet quality in breast cancer survivors was associated with higher overall HRQoL in this cross-sectional analysis.

Objective. To report cross-sectionally serum levels of 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] in women living in Italy within 12 months from breast cancer (BC) diagnosis. Methods. Baseline data were obtained from 394 women diagnosed with primary BC, enrolled from 2016 to 2019 in a lifestyle trial conducted in Italy. Subjects’ characteristics were compared between two 25(OH)D concentrations (hypovitaminosis D30, and ≥35 versus <25 kg/m2 (ORs: 2.50, 4.64, and 5.81, respectively, in the total cohort and ORs: 2.68, 5.38, and 7.08 in the unsupplemented); living in the most southern Italian region (OR 2.50, 95%CI 1.22-5.13); and with hypertriglyceridemia (OR 2.46; 95%CI 1.16-5.22), chemotherapy history (OR 1.86, 95%CI 1.03-3.38), and inversely with anti-estrogenic therapy (OR 0.43, 95%CI 0.24-0.75) in the total sample. Conclusions. Hypovitaminosis D in women recently diagnosed with BC and participating in a lifestyle trial in Italy was widespread and highest with obesity, hypertriglyceridemia, and chemotherapy use. Considering that hypovitaminosis D is a risk factor for lower efficacy of bone density treatments and possibly BC mortality, our results suggest the need to promptly address and treat vitamin D deficiency.

Purpose: Breakthrough cancer pain (BTcP) is a temporary exacerbation of pain that “breaks through” a phase of adequate pain control by an opioid-based therapy. The non-predictable BTcP (NP-BTcP) subtype occurs in the absence of any specific activity. Evidence showed that gender differences exist in pain response sensitivity and clinical pain risk. This analysis aimed to signify the gender differences for the NP-BTcP phenomenon. Patients and Methods: This is a secondary analysis of the Italian Oncologic Pain multiSetting-Multicentric Survey (IOPS-MS), the largest study on BTcP. The subset of NP-BTcP cases for non-gender-specific cancer was considered. Univariable and multivariate analyses were conducted to identify gender differences for the NP-BTcP profile about its intensity, number of episodes per day, and type. A metastatic status-stratified analysis was performed to compare gender with the main clinical variables among the population with NP-BTcP. Results: Males exhibited a higher occurrence of BTcP in the thorax region compared to females (15% vs 11%, respectively, p = 0.03). Males also had a higher onset of BTcP, a higher BTcP therapy dosage (33% vs 28%, p = 0.04, mean: 201 vs 186, p = 0.02) and a lower Karnofsky score (mean: 46.9 vs 49.2, p = 0.03) compared to females. Similar gender differences were found for metastatic patients in the BTcP site (14% vs 8.5%, respectively; p = 0.01), peak onset (33% vs 27%, p = 0.02), BTcP therapy dosage (199 vs 185, p=0.04), and Karnofsky score (mean 47.5 vs 50.4, p = 0.009). Phenotype 2 was more characterized by non-metastatic males (41% vs 23%, p = 0.020) while non-metastatic females presence was predominant among others. Conclusion: In this study, gender differences according to site, onset and dosage of BTcP were found. The phenotype characterization of BTcP needs to be further investigated for a possible useful function in the management of cancer-related pain in non-metastatic patients.

Background/Objectives: Cancer and their treatments could impact physical, nutritional, and psychological health, negatively influencing overall well-being. Accordingly, Health-Related Quality of Life (HRQoL) could be influenced by lifestyle habits, such as physical activity. This study aimed to assess physical activity levels in patients with a primary cancer diagnosis and their association with HRQoL at the first nutritional assessment. Methods: Data from the NUTRISCREEN project, part of the ONCOCAMP study (ClinicalTrials.gov ID: NCT06270602), were analyzed. Nutritional and sarcopenia risk, anthropometry and body composition parameters were collected. HRQoL and physical activity (as MET levels) were assessed through validated questionnaires. Descriptive statistics summarized categorical and continuous variables, and multivariable ordinal logistic regression models were performed. Results: Nutritional and sarcopenia risk decreased progressively with higher MET levels (p = 0.005 and p < 0.001, respectively). Adjusted multivariable models showed that HRQoL functional scores improved with increasing MET levels, with significant positive trends for physical (p < 0.001), role (p < 0.001), emotional (p = 0.003), and social functioning (p = 0.001), and global health status (p < 0.001). Conversely, symptom burden, including fatigue, nausea and vomiting, pain, dyspnea, insomnia, appetite loss, and constipation, decreased across MET quartiles (all p < 0.05). Conclusions: Overall, our findings suggest that physical activity may positively influence HRQoL among cancer patients. Early assessment helps to identify patients at risk of inactivity and support tailored rehabilitation programs to promote active lifestyles, preserve muscle mass, improve outcomes and overall health status.

La endometriosis es una enfermedad crónica del aparato genital femenino cuya etiología aún no está clara. El objetivo de este trabajo es analizar, desde una perspectiva biopsicosocial, la estructura de las representaciones sociales de la endometriosis entre mujeres con esta enfermedad y mujeres sanas. Para ello, se realizó una encuesta exploratoria mediante un cuestionario online. Los resultados permitieron identificar ese tipo particular de representaciones sociales, las polémicas, articuladas de manera diferente y a menudo contradictoria en sus elementos periféricos. Estos resultados constituyen una base útil para la construcción de estrategias de intervención destinadas a evitar el “purgatorio epistemológico” en el que muchas mujeres se ven obligadas a vivir debido a la discrepancia entre la experiencia subjetiva de la endometriosis y el conocimiento experto de la misma.