Early nutrition support therapy in patients with head-neck cancer.

Abstract

weight loss is commonly observed in head-neck cancer patients, affecting 75-80% of them during their treatment period; weight loss is severe in 30-50% of cases. According to ESPEN publications, nutritional assessment in cancer patients should be frequently performed and nutrition support therapy must be started when any deficiency is observed. to evaluate the effect of early nutrition support (ENS) in nutritional markers and treatment response in patients with head-neck cancer receiving radiotherapy (RT). one hundred and two patients with head-neck cancer and more than two points in the malnutrition screening tool (MUST) before receiving RT were included. ENS was provided to all patients consisting in nutrition counselling, oral supplements and/or enteral nutrition. one hundred and two patients were included; 76% had a stage IV of disease. At the end of RT, after ENS, a slightly decreased body mass index (BMI) with an increased fat-free body mass was observed (p patients who receive ENS keep their nutritional condition instead of associated effects due to RT. ENS represents an efficient treatment and could prevent malnutrition associated comorbidities in oncologic patients.