Studying the effect of high-protein nutritional support on postoperative outcomes and during adjuvant chemotherapy in patients with primary gastric cancer

Abstract

Introduction. Malnutrition of cancer patients is a big problem today. This is especially evident in patients with tumors of the gastrointestinal tract, where the frequency of this condition reaches high values. Malnutrition has a direct negative impact on the tolerability of treatment, long-term results and quality of life of this category of patients, so it is important to identify this condition and, if possible, correct it.Aim. To evaluate the effect of protein nutritional support on blood counts, prolongation of intervals between chemotherapy courses, postoperative complications, progression-free life expectancy and OS in patients with gastric cancer after surgical treatment and during adjuvant chemotherapy.Materials and methods. The study included 106 patients with gastric cancer who received surgical treatment followed by postoperative chemotherapy according to the XELOX regimen. The patients were divided into 2 groups: in the first group, patients received additional protein nutrition (Nutridrink Compact Protein) both before and after surgical treatment, and during chemotherapy; in the second group, patients did not receive nutritional support – the control group.Results. Median levels of leukocytes, neutrophils and platelets during treatment were higher in group 1. Surgical complications in the group with nutritional support occurred significantly less frequently than in the control group, the same applies to complications after chemotherapy. During treatment, lengthening of the intervals between courses occurred statistically significantly more often in group 2 (without protein nutrition). 4-year overall survival was statistically higher in the protein diet group. The median PFS in patients from the first group was higher and amounted to 55.6 months, in the second group – 46.7 months.Conclusion. The presence of additional protein nutrition is an independent factor in the prognosis of the disease, since it significantly increases both relapse-free and overall survival of patients.