Abstract
8190 Background: progressive weight loss in cancer patients is a complex, multifactorial syndrome occuring through a variety of mechanisms related to the tumor, the host response and cancer treatment. clinical features of malnutrition include anorexia, depletion of lean body mass, muscle weakness, fatigue and impaired immunological function. weight loss significantly correlates with increased chemotherapy-induced toxicity, decreased response to treatment, performance status (PS), survival and QoL. The aim of this study is to evaluate the relationship between QoL and malnutrition in cancer patients who underwent chemo and/or radiotherapy, and the efficacy of an early nutritional support. Methods: between October 2003 and October 2004, 176 cancer patients were enrolled. All patients were evaluated for nutritional status, ECOG PS and QoL (measured with QLQ-C30 v. 3.0) at the biginning of their oncological treatment. Nutritional support consisted in 1,5/2 gr protein and 30 non proteic Kcal/Kg per day, enriched with at least 2 gr of EPA and DHA per os. Patients requiring tube feeding or parenteral nutrition and having major surgical intervention that can influence dietary intake were excluded. Results: Weight loss >10% (range 17 +- 6 SD) was onserved in 51/176 (28,9%) of patients; in 29 patients (59%) before starting treatment, in 8 (15,6%) during treatment, and in 14 (27,4) after treatment. Weight loss was observed more frequently in stomach cancer (88%), pancreatic (66%), head and neck (50%) and colon-rectum (22%). 46/51 patients were evaluable. After 4 weeks of nutritional support, all of the 37/51 (81%) patients who respected the prescribed regimen showed a weight gain of 2,9 +- 1Kg. Weight gain positively correlate with PS (PS0 before treatment: none. PS0 after treatment: 13 (35%) patients) and QoL. Conclusions: Our data suggests that, in cancer patients underling oncological treatment, careful monitoring of nutritional status reduce the incidence of fatigue, ameliorate QoL, allows to complete the full anticancer treatment and improves the outcome. No significant financial relationships to disclose.
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