Food as medicine: A randomized controlled trial (RCT) of home delivered, medically tailored meals (HDMTM) on quality of life (QoL) in metastatic lung and non-colorectal GI cancer patients.

Abstract

155 Background: Malnutrition incidence in cancer approaches 85%, disproportionately burdening those with lung, GI, and advanced stage cancers. Malnourished patients have impaired chemotherapy response, shorter survival, longer hospital stays, and decreased QoL. Home delivered meals are nutritional interventions that improve patient well-being, nutrition, and lower healthcare costs in the elderly but have not been studied as an intervention in cancer patients. HDMTM are nutritionist prescribed home delivered meals tailored to patient’s symptoms, co-morbidities, and health needs. Preliminary data in 211 cancer patients showed with HDMTM 87% ate more than half of meals, 91% lived more independently, 89% ate more nutritiously, and 70% had less fatigue. HDMTM may be a strategy to reduce financial toxicity and healthcare utilization and improve QoL in cancer patients, but no primary data exists evaluating its efficacy. Methods: We sought to develop the first RCT evaluating patient-centered QoL improvement from nutritional intervention with HDMTM in those with metastatic lung and non-colorectal GI cancer. We established a partnership with God’s Love We Deliver, a 501c3 non-profit specializing in HDMTM. Results: We developed a protocol for a single-institution RCT of standard of care (SoC) versus SoC and HDMTM in metastatic lung and non-colorectal GI cancer patients with primary aim comparing QoL between arms at 12 weeks using the FACT-G questionnaire. Sample size is 180. Secondary aims assess HDMTM’s impact on nutritional status, weight, mood, survival, food security, financial toxicity, healthcare utilization, and cost effectiveness. Eligible patients tolerate oral alimentation, have PS 0-3, and newly diagnosed (< 6 weeks) metastatic cancer. All patients have pre-randomization nutritional evaluation by an oncologic dietician. Conclusions: We present the first PRMC reviewed and IRB approved RCT evaluating the efficacy of HDMTM in metastatic cancer patients with primary endpoint of patient reported QoL. Investigating HDMTM expands our knowledge of nutrition as an effective arm of palliative oncology.