PO-109 Particle therapy reduces weight loss and toxicities among patients with head and neck cancer

Abstract

IntroductionWeight loss occurs frequently among patients with head and neck cancer during conventional radiotherapy. However, the impact of particle therapy on weight loss has not been examined among this population.Material and methodsPatients with head and neck cancer who received particle therapy were enrolled from May 2015 to June 2016. Multiple linear regression analysis was performed to investigate the association between percentages of weight loss during particle therapy and patients’ demographic, clinical characteristic, pre-therapeutic nutrition risk, BMI and total score of toxicities.Results and discussionsOverall, 126 adult patients undergoing particle therapy were included. Critical weight loss (weight loss >5%) occurred in 20% of the patients, and the mean weight loss was 1.4 kg (2%) during particle therapy. None of acute toxicities were greater than Grade 2, except for Grade 3 oral mucositis in 7.1% of the patients. Results of multiple linear regression indicated that only radiotherapy modality (95% CI:−7.934-−2.917, p<0.001) and total toxicity score (95% CI: −1.348-−0.449, p<0.001) were significantly related to weight loss during particle therapy among head and neck cancer patients.ConclusionWeight loss and toxicities were less severe during particle therapy compared with conventional radiotherapy. However, it is still crucial that early nutrition intervention should be implemented for patients with combined particle and photon therapy or severe toxicities, who were at high risk of weight loss.