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Life
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Research on Gastrointestinal Cancer and Nutritional Health
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Research on Gastrointestinal Cancer and Nutritional Health

A special issue of Life (ISSN 2075-1729). This special issue belongs to the section "Medical Research".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 June 2026 | Viewed by 3012

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Irene Lidoriki

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
1. Department of Environmental Health, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA 02115, USA
2. Department of Occupational Medicine, Cambridge Health Alliance, Cambridge, MA, USA
Interests: clinical nutrition; oncology; gastrointestinal cancer surgery; public health; geriatrics; sarcopenia
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Adam Mylonakis

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
First Department of Surgery, Laiko Hospital, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University, Athens, Greece
Interests: gastrointestinal cancer; gastric cancer surgery; esophageal cancer surgery; pancreatic cancer surgery; oncology; nutrition
Dr. Dimitrios Tsapralis

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Surgery, Ierapetra General Hospital, Ierapetra, Greece
Interests: gastrointestinal cancer; gastric cancer surgery; esophageal cancer surgery; pancreatic cancer surgery; oncology; nutrition

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Gastrointestinal (GI) cancers remain a significant global health challenge, contributing to high morbidity and mortality rates. Given the direct impact of nutrition on the GI system, its role in the prevention, progression, and management of GI cancers is critical, with nutrition influencing key risk factors, treatment outcomes, and overall patient quality of life. Moreover, nutritional status significantly affects both short- and long-term outcomes in patients diagnosed with GI cancer, particularly following surgery and/or adjuvant therapies. Despite growing evidence linking dietary behavior, dietary patterns, specific nutrients/foods, and inflammation to GI cancer pathophysiology, many questions remain unanswered.

This Special Issue aims to explore the complex interplay between nutrition and GI cancers, addressing key topics such as the epidemiological associations between diet and GI cancer development, dietary interventions for prevention and treatment, the impact of malnutrition and cachexia on cancer progression, gut microbiome interactions, and the role of precision nutrition in patient care. By bringing together cutting-edge studies, we seek to advance our understanding of how nutritional interventions can reduce the risk of developing GI cancer and improve clinical outcomes and overall well-being for individuals affected by these cancers.

We welcome original research, systematic reviews, and clinical studies that contribute to this vital area of investigation. 

Dr. Irene Lidoriki
Dr. Adam Mylonakis
Dr. Dimitrios Tsapralis
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Life is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • dietary patterns
  • gastrointestinal cancer
  • clinical nutrition
  • nutritional status
  • nutritional assessment
  • metabolism
  • gastric cancer
  • esophageal cancer
  • pancreatic cancer
  • colorectal cancer

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Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.

Published Papers (2 papers)

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15 pages, 547 KB  
Article
Exploring the Link Between Nutritional and Functional Status and Short-Term Postoperative Outcomes in Patients Undergoing Pancreatic Cancer Surgery
by Irene Lidoriki, Maximos Frountzas, Eva Karanikki, Adam Mylonakis, Alexandros Kozadinos, Iliana Tsikrikou, Maria Kyriakidou, Lysandros Karydakis, Dimitrios Stefanoudakis, Maria Lampou, Michail Vailas, Evangelos Felekouras, Konstantinos G. Toutouzas and Dimitrios Schizas
Life 2025, 15(5), 803; https://doi.org/10.3390/life15050803 - 18 May 2025
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Abstract
Background: Patients with pancreatic cancer are at increased risk of malnutrition and functional decline. This study aimed to identify preoperative nutritional and functional risk factors associated with postoperative complications. Methods: Adult patients with pancreatic cancer admitted to two university surgical departments in Athens, [...] Read more.
Background: Patients with pancreatic cancer are at increased risk of malnutrition and functional decline. This study aimed to identify preoperative nutritional and functional risk factors associated with postoperative complications. Methods: Adult patients with pancreatic cancer admitted to two university surgical departments in Athens, Greece, were included. Preoperative laboratory values, nutritional status, and functional status were assessed. Results: Among 96 patients included in this study, postoperative complications occurred in 69 (71.9%). Complication rates were significantly higher in patients with severe malnutrition (87.9% vs. 62.7%, p = 0.015), low Geriatric Nutritional Risk Index (GNRI) (90.5% vs. 66.2%, p = 0.023), low handgrip strength (91.7% vs. 61.5%, p = 0.037), and low gait speed (90.5% vs. 63.6%, p = 0.027). Major complications were linked to lower hemoglobin (Hb) (11.5 ± 1.9 vs. 12.8 ± 1.7 g/dL, p = 0.001), lower hematocrit (HCT) (34.7 ± 5.4% vs. 38.4 ± 4.7%, p = 0.001), and severe malnutrition (42.4% vs. 23.7%, p = 0.05). Lower Hb, lower HCT, malnutrition, and greater waist circumference were associated with postoperative mortality. Longer hospital stays were correlated with weaker handgrip strength and slower gait speed. Conclusion: Preoperative malnutrition and impaired functional status are significant predictors of adverse postoperative outcomes in pancreatic cancer surgery. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Research on Gastrointestinal Cancer and Nutritional Health)
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18 pages, 721 KB  
Systematic Review
Oxidative Stress and Inflammation in Colorectal Cancer–Redox–Immune Crosstalk, Biomarkers, and Translational Implications: A Qualitative Systematic Review
by Razvan Marinescu, Daniela Marinescu, Daniel Preda, Ana-Maria Ciurea, Petrica Popa, Lidia Boldeanu, Marius Bica, Mihai Boldeanu, Stefan Patrascu and Marin Valeriu Surlin
Life 2026, 16(3), 424; https://doi.org/10.3390/life16030424 - 5 Mar 2026
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 960
Abstract
Oxidative stress and chronic inflammation are tightly interconnected biological processes that play central roles in colorectal cancer (CRC) initiation, progression, and resistance to therapy. Understanding their reciprocal interactions may identify novel biomarkers and therapeutic targets with translational relevance. Methods: This systematic review with [...] Read more.
Oxidative stress and chronic inflammation are tightly interconnected biological processes that play central roles in colorectal cancer (CRC) initiation, progression, and resistance to therapy. Understanding their reciprocal interactions may identify novel biomarkers and therapeutic targets with translational relevance. Methods: This systematic review with qualitative synthesis was conducted in accordance with the PRISMA 2020 guidelines. A comprehensive literature search of PubMed/MEDLINE, Scopus, Web of Science, and Google Scholar was performed from January 2005 to June 2025. Eligible studies investigated mechanistic links between oxidative stress and inflammation in colorectal cancer, assessed oxidative or inflammatory biomarkers, or explored redox- and inflammation-targeted therapeutic strategies. Study selection and data extraction were performed systematically. Due to heterogeneity in study designs and outcomes, a qualitative synthesis was undertaken without meta-analysis. Results: Twenty-six studies met the inclusion criteria. Evidence consistently demonstrated that redox-sensitive pathways—including NF-κB, NRF2, and IL-6/JAK/STAT3—drive colorectal carcinogenesis by promoting genomic instability, immune evasion, angiogenesis, and therapy resistance. Biomarkers such as 8-hydroxy-2′-deoxyguanosine, malondialdehyde, F2-isoprostanes, C-reactive protein, interleukin-6, and tumor necrosis factor-α were frequently associated with tumor stage, prognosis, and treatment response. Therapeutic strategies targeting oxidative stress and inflammation showed promising preclinical and early translational results, particularly in combination with chemotherapy or immunotherapy. Conclusion: Oxidative stress and inflammation constitute a synergistic axis that critically influences colorectal cancer biology. Although several biomarkers and redox-targeted interventions demonstrate translational potential, robust clinical validation is still required before routine implementation. Integrative strategies guided by biomarker profiling may represent a future direction for personalized CRC management. Most therapeutic approaches discussed are supported by preclinical and early translational evidence, and their clinical applicability remains to be validated. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Research on Gastrointestinal Cancer and Nutritional Health)
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