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This study evaluated how triceps skinfold thickness, reflecting body fat, and serum albumin levels, indicating nutritional status, relate to overall survival in patients with pancreatic cancer receiving chemotherapy. We prospectively evaluated 353 patients with pancreatic cancer, repeatedly measuring triceps skinfold thickness and serum albumin from baseline through follow-up. Survival was assessed through a six-month landmark analysis and sex-stratified evaluations. Changes in triceps skinfold thickness, albumin, and protein levels over six months, as well as baseline albumin levels, were independently associated with survival. Cancer stage, chemotherapy response, and six-month CA19-9 levels also contributed to prognosis. Sex-specific analyses showed that reduced triceps skinfold thickness over six months was linked to shorter survival in males, whereas lower baseline albumin levels and greater albumin decline were associated with poorer outcomes in females. These findings highlight the significant and sex-dependent association of triceps skinfold thickness and serum albumin with survival in pancreatic cancer.
Choi et al. (2026) studied this question.