{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,7,27]],"date-time":"2026-07-27T06:58:54Z","timestamp":1785135534376,"version":"3.55.0"},"reference-count":43,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"15","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2026,7,25]],"date-time":"2026-07-25T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1784937600000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["Nutrients"],"abstract":"<jats:p>Background: Malnutrition is common among patients with cancer and is associated with poorer clinical outcomes and increased healthcare costs. However, nutritional care remains suboptimal in routine oncology practice. This study aimed to assess the implementation of nutritional screening, assessment and management across oncology centers in Lombardy (Italy) and to identify critical areas to support the development and implementation of a regional Diagnostic\u2013Therapeutic Care Pathway (PDTA). Methods: A 21-item questionnaire developed by the Oncology Commission of the Clinical Nutrition Network of Lombardy Region was administered to all regional oncology centers. Data were collected via the Welfare General Directorate platform from 13 November 2024 to 31 December 2024, and analyzed in aggregate form. Results: In total, 55 out of 59 centers responded (93.2%). Nutritional care was available in 78% of centers. Systematic nutritional risk screening was reported by 42% of centers, while 51% performed a comprehensive nutritional assessment in all patients with a positive screening result. Nutritional assessment was scheduled at both initial and follow-up visits in 53% of centers. In the perioperative setting, prehabilitation programs were available in 49% of centers, and preoperative immunonutrition was administered in 35%. Tools for assessing patient-reported outcomes and quality of life were available in only 15% and 20% of centers, respectively. Conclusions: The survey suggests some improvements compared to previous Italian surveys but highlights persistent gaps in the organization and delivery of nutritional care for patients with cancer.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/nu18152433","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2026,7,27]],"date-time":"2026-07-27T05:49:27Z","timestamp":1785131367000},"page":"2433","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":0,"title":["Mapping Nutritional Assessment and Management in Oncology: Challenges and Perspectives from a Regional Survey"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"18","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-1092-3493","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Elisa","family":"Mattavelli","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Clinical Nutrition and Dietetics Unit, Department of Oncology, Comprehensive Cancer Center, Fondazione IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo, 27100 Pavia, Italy"},{"name":"Department of Internal Medicine and Medical Therapy, University of Pavia, 27100 Pavia, Italy"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-0747-1951","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Emanuele","family":"Cereda","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Clinical Nutrition and Dietetics Unit, Department of Oncology, Comprehensive Cancer Center, Fondazione IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo, 27100 Pavia, Italy"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Alessandro","family":"Amorosi","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Welfare General Directorate, Regione Lombardia, 20124 Milan, Italy"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Saba","family":"Ancillai","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Welfare General Directorate, Regione Lombardia, 20124 Milan, Italy"},{"name":"School of Medicine, Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, 20132 Milan, Italy"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Anna","family":"Boggio","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Clinical Nutrition and Dietetics Unit, ASST Fatebenefratelli Sacco, 20154 Milan, Italy"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Marco","family":"Danova","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Internal Medicine and Medical Oncology, ASST of Pavia, 27100 Pavia, Italy"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Gabriella","family":"Farina","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Medical Oncology Unit, ASST Fatebenefratelli Sacco, 20154 Milan, Italy"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Monica","family":"Giordano","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Medical Oncology Unit, ASST Lariana, 22074 Como, Italy"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-0560-4706","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Patrizia","family":"Gnagnarella","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Division of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, IEO European Institute of Oncology IRCCS, 20141 Milan, Italy"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Elisa","family":"Merelli","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Clinical Nutrition and Dietetics Unit, ASST Melegnano-Martesana, 20077 Melegnano, Italy"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Giulia","family":"Mulazzani","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Clinical Nutrition and Dietetics Unit, ASST Santi Paolo e Carlo, 20146 Milan, Italy"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-9419-7160","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Paolo","family":"Pedrazzoli","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Internal Medicine and Medical Therapy, University of Pavia, 27100 Pavia, Italy"},{"name":"Department of Oncology, Comprehensive Cancer Center, Fondazione IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo, 27100 Pavia, Italy"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Piero","family":"Rivizzigno","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Codice Viola, Pancreatic Cancer Advocacy Group, 23880 Lesmo, Italy"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Alessandro","family":"Scardoni","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Welfare General Directorate, Regione Lombardia, 20124 Milan, Italy"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Alessandro","family":"Zucchelli","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Clinical Nutrition Unit, ASST Grande Ospedale Metropolitano Niguarda, 20162 Milan, Italy"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-9379-3569","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Riccardo","family":"Caccialanza","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Clinical Nutrition and Dietetics Unit, Department of Oncology, Comprehensive Cancer Center, Fondazione IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo, 27100 Pavia, Italy"},{"name":"Department of Oncology and Hematology-Oncology, University of Milan, 20122 Milan, Italy"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"name":"on behalf of the Clinical Nutrition Network of Lombardy","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2026,7,25]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"107074","DOI":"10.1016\/j.ejso.2023.107074","article-title":"Malnutrition in Cancer Patients: Causes, Consequences and Treatment Options","volume":"50","author":"Arends","year":"2024","journal-title":"Eur. 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