Abstract
In an attempt to increase the poor prognosis of patients with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma, many oncologists propose a combined chemotherapy and radiation therapy approach. In these patients drug-related dysphagia, anorexia and vomiting often lead to malnutrition. The aim of this study is to investigate the efficacy of enteral nutrition during a pre-operative combined chemoradiotherapy. We analyzed 37 malnourished patients divided into two groups: group I (CTR) patients without dysphagia and no nutritional support, group II (NE) patients with dysphagia supported by enteral feeding. Oncological therapies included 5-florouracil (1g/m2/day, dl-4) cisplatin (100mg/m2, dl) for two cycles associated with radiotherapy (30 Gy). We have evaluated the feasibility of enteral nutrition and its effects on the nutritional status and treatment tolerance. Tube feeding was delivered for a mean period of 33 days providing 37 Cal/kg/day and 2.1 g proteins/kg/day. Five patients stopped enteral nutrition before the end of oncological treatment because of an improvement of dysphagia. Nutritional evaluations demonstrated that during the chemoradiation therapy period, the CTR group had an impairment of body weight, total protein and albumin while there was no change in the NE group. No difference in the treatment tolerance between the two groups was found. Our study demonstrates that enteral nutrition is an easy way to prevent deterioration of nutritional status during chemoradiation therapy. Dysphagia is useful for indicating nutritional support.
Translated title of the contribution | Enteral nutrition efficacy in patients with esophageal carcinoma receiving combined chemo-radiation therapy |
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Original language | Italian |
Pages (from-to) | 37-42 |
Number of pages | 6 |
Journal | Rivista Italiana di Nutrizione Parenterale ed Enterale |
Volume | 10 |
Issue number | 1 |
Publication status | Published - 1992 |
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Food Science
- Anatomy
- Critical Care and Intensive Care Medicine
- Nutrition and Dietetics