2109P - Vitamin A, D and E levels in patients with solid tumors undergoing palliative systemic cancer treatment

Background

Vitamin deficiencies and supplement intake is discussed controversially in oncology. Therefore, we aimed to investigate vitamin D, A and E levels and their correlation with clinical characteristics and symptomatic burden in a large pan-cancer cohort.

Methods

25-hydroxy-vitamin D, vitamin A, and vitamin E levels were measured at treatment start in patients receiving palliative cancer treatment at the Medical University of Vienna (MUV) included in the “Biobanking Program for Personalized Immunotherapy” between May 2019 and March 2022. Measurements were performed using a chemiluminescence immunoassay (vitamin D) and high performance liquid chromatography (vitamin A, vitamin E) established at the Department of Laboratory Medicine (MUV). Cut off values defining the normal range were predefined as follows: vitamin D (75-250nmol/L), vitamin A (1.05-2.45μmol/L), vitamin E (12.0-42.0μmol/L). Symptom burden was assessed using the EORTC quality of life questionnaire QLQC-30 and its subscore assessing fatigue.

Results

Vitamin D, A, and E levels were measured in a total of 231 patients (92 females, 139 males, median age: 64 years [range: 23-89]). Median vitamin levels were as follows: vitamin D 66.9nmol/l (range: 10.4-186.0nmol/l), vitamin A 1.64μmol/l (range: 0.29-4.22μmol/l), and vitamin E 35.8μmol/l (range: 20.2-76.8μmol/l). Patients presented with vitamin D deficiencies in 138/231 (59.7%) and vitamin A deficiencies in 34/231 cases (14.7%). No vitamin E deficiencies were detected, however, 25/231 patients (24.2%) presented with vitamin E levels above normal. Vitamin A levels were increased in 26/231 patients (11.3%), while vitamin D levels above the upper limit of normal in 1/231 patient (0.4%). No correlations between vitamin levels and clinical characteristics at sample collection such as sex, age, tumor origin, symptom burden or fatigue were observed (p>0.05). Additionally, no correlation between vitamin levels and overall survival could be detected (p>0.05).

Conclusions

Even though vitamin deficiencies are common in patients with cancer, no influences of vitamin levels on symptom burden, fatigue or survival could be detected.

Clinical trial identification

Editorial acknowledgement

Legal entity responsible for the study

The authors.

Funding

Financial support by the Austrian Federal Ministry for Digital and Economic Affairs, the National Foundation for Research, Technology and Development and the Christian Doppler Research Association.

Disclosure

A.M. Starzer: Financial Interests, Personal, Invited Speaker, Lecture honoraria: AstraZeneca; Financial Interests, Institutional, Research Grant, Industry partner of institutional Christian Doppler Laboratory: Roche; Non-Financial Interests, Member, National Oncology Society: OeGHO; Non-Financial Interests, Member, Oncology society of USA: ASCO; Other, Travel support for conference participation: MSD, Lilly. M. Preusser: Financial Interests, Personal, Advisory Board: Bayer, Bristol Myers Squibb, Novartis, Gerson Lehrman, CMC Contrast, GSK, Mundipharma, Roche, BMJ Journals, MedMedia, AstraZeneca, AbbVie, Lilly, Medahead, Daiichi Sankyo, Sanofi, Merck Sharp & Dohme, Tocagen, Adastra, Gan & Lee Pharmaceuticals; Financial Interests, Institutional, Research Grant, Clinical Trials and research: Boehringer-Ingelheim, Bristol Myers Squibb, Roche, Daiichi Sankyo, Merck Sharp & Dohme, Novocure, GSK, AbbVie; Financial Interests, Institutional, Coordinating PI: PharmaMar; Non-Financial Interests, Leadership Role, Brain Tumor Group Chair (current): EORTC; Non-Financial Interests, Leadership Role, EANO Past-President (current): EANO; Non-Financial Interests, Other, Member Multi-Site Guideline Advisory Group: ASCO. A.S. Berghoff: Financial Interests, Personal, Invited Speaker: Roche, Bristol Myers Squibb, Merck, AstraZeneca; Financial Interests, Personal, Advisory Board: Daiichi Sankyo; Financial Interests, Institutional, Research Grant: Daiichi Sankyo, Roche. All other authors have declared no conflicts of interest.