N criterion[7]. This tool requires a professional to complete and evaluates

N criterion[7]. This tool TAK-385 web requires a professional to complete and evaluates risk of undernutrition through measures of anthropometry, dietary and clinical global assessment in addition to self-perception of health and nutritional status[34]. A total of 643 patients were included in the survey[7]. Similar to our study, the authors highlighted a high prevalence of U0126 chemical information malnutrition of 20.7 and 43.5 at risk of malnutrition in their cohort of elderly French cancer patients[7]. The presence of geriatric syndromes such as cognitive impairment, depressed mood and fall risk were independent risk factors for malnutrition[7]. In particular, depressed mood was associated with a 1.5? times risk for malnutrition in their cohort of patients[7]. The relationship between nutritional status and psychological status in patients with colorectal cancers was investigated in a Canadian study not limited to elderly patients[35]. Depression was identified as an independent predictor of risk of malnutrition when controlling for age, gender, marital status and weight change[35]. Further work is required to investigate the causal relationship between depression and malnutrition. Advanced tumor stage, a consequence of disease progression is a well-established poor prognostic factor[14,24]. Nutritional risk likely reflects the consequence of having advanced disease and theFig 2. Calibration plot of the final model for moderate to high nutritional risk. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0156008.g002 PLOS ONE | DOI:10.1371/journal.pone.0156008 May 27, 2016 9 /Nutritional Risk in Elderly Asian Cancer Patientsgeneral health of patients. In a large study of 14972 Korean cancer patients, the proportion of patients with high risk for malnutrition as defined by BMI, serum albumin, total lymphocyte count and dietary intake, increased with cancer stage[36]. Similarly, in the SCReening the Nutritional status in Oncology (SCRINIO) study of 1000 oncology outpatients in Italy, weight loss was higher in patients with more advanced stage of disease and compromised performance status[37]. Nutritional risk as defined by the Nutritional Risk Score (NRS) was noted to be higher in patients with poorer performance status[37]. Similarly, a multicenter observational study conducted in France identified a WHO performance status score of 2 or more as a risk factor for malnutrition as defined by 2 anthropometric indicators, the level of weight loss and BMI[15]. Performance status is a commonly cited factor independently associated with mortality[38]. Anaemia, a common finding in patients with cancer may adversely influence the management of elderly cancer patients by limiting dose intensity of treatment and hence affecting efficacy. In a prospective survey, Mancuso et al analyzed the correlation between CGA parameters and anemia[39]. Functional decline, cognitive decline, depression and poor quality of life were identified as associated with low haemoglobin levels[39]. In a review of the literature of elderly cancer patients, anaemia has not yet been found to be a predictor for risk of malnutrition. Hence this is the first study to report this association. Early identification of malnutrition allows for timely referral to appropriately trained health care professionals leading to interventions that may modify risk factors and potentially improve outcomes. We report here an exploratory analysis identifying four factors that should be further explored for subsequent use in clinical trials and therapeutic.N criterion[7]. This tool requires a professional to complete and evaluates risk of undernutrition through measures of anthropometry, dietary and clinical global assessment in addition to self-perception of health and nutritional status[34]. A total of 643 patients were included in the survey[7]. Similar to our study, the authors highlighted a high prevalence of malnutrition of 20.7 and 43.5 at risk of malnutrition in their cohort of elderly French cancer patients[7]. The presence of geriatric syndromes such as cognitive impairment, depressed mood and fall risk were independent risk factors for malnutrition[7]. In particular, depressed mood was associated with a 1.5? times risk for malnutrition in their cohort of patients[7]. The relationship between nutritional status and psychological status in patients with colorectal cancers was investigated in a Canadian study not limited to elderly patients[35]. Depression was identified as an independent predictor of risk of malnutrition when controlling for age, gender, marital status and weight change[35]. Further work is required to investigate the causal relationship between depression and malnutrition. Advanced tumor stage, a consequence of disease progression is a well-established poor prognostic factor[14,24]. Nutritional risk likely reflects the consequence of having advanced disease and theFig 2. Calibration plot of the final model for moderate to high nutritional risk. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0156008.g002 PLOS ONE | DOI:10.1371/journal.pone.0156008 May 27, 2016 9 /Nutritional Risk in Elderly Asian Cancer Patientsgeneral health of patients. In a large study of 14972 Korean cancer patients, the proportion of patients with high risk for malnutrition as defined by BMI, serum albumin, total lymphocyte count and dietary intake, increased with cancer stage[36]. Similarly, in the SCReening the Nutritional status in Oncology (SCRINIO) study of 1000 oncology outpatients in Italy, weight loss was higher in patients with more advanced stage of disease and compromised performance status[37]. Nutritional risk as defined by the Nutritional Risk Score (NRS) was noted to be higher in patients with poorer performance status[37]. Similarly, a multicenter observational study conducted in France identified a WHO performance status score of 2 or more as a risk factor for malnutrition as defined by 2 anthropometric indicators, the level of weight loss and BMI[15]. Performance status is a commonly cited factor independently associated with mortality[38]. Anaemia, a common finding in patients with cancer may adversely influence the management of elderly cancer patients by limiting dose intensity of treatment and hence affecting efficacy. In a prospective survey, Mancuso et al analyzed the correlation between CGA parameters and anemia[39]. Functional decline, cognitive decline, depression and poor quality of life were identified as associated with low haemoglobin levels[39]. In a review of the literature of elderly cancer patients, anaemia has not yet been found to be a predictor for risk of malnutrition. Hence this is the first study to report this association. Early identification of malnutrition allows for timely referral to appropriately trained health care professionals leading to interventions that may modify risk factors and potentially improve outcomes. We report here an exploratory analysis identifying four factors that should be further explored for subsequent use in clinical trials and therapeutic.