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Nutrition as an Adjunct to Cancer Treatment in the Adult¹

Department of Surgery, The University of Texas Medical School at Houston [E. M. C., J. M. D., S. J. D.]; Department of Surgery, Hermann Hospital/The University Hospital [E. M. C., J. M. D., S. J. D.]; and The University of Texas System Cancer Center, The M. D. Anderson Hospital and Tumor Institute [E. M. C., S. J. D.], Houston, Texas 77030

Because of the fear of complications secondary to malnutrition, certain patients may be denied proper oncological therapy. With the advent of i.v. hyperalimentation (IVH) a technique became available which would allow rapid nutritional repletion of patients who otherwise could not be adequately nourished enterally. During a 3-year period, 406 cancer patients received IVH for 10 to 147 days (average, 23.9 days) as an adjunct to treatment. In 175 patients, chemotherapy was combined with IVH. Average weight gain was 5.6 lb, tumor response was obtained in 27.8% of patients, and leukocyte depression occurred in 51.5% of patients and lasted an average period of 7.7 days. A correlation between adequate nutritional status and response to chemotherapy was identified. Of the 100 surgical patients, 66 underwent major abalative procedures, and the mortality rate for the entire group was only 4%. Those patients who received IVH both pre- and postoperatively had few surgical complications and no mortality. Ninety-five % of the radiation therapy group completed their planned course of treatment, and 54% responded with a greater than 50% reduction in radiated tumor volume. Catheter-related sepsis occurred in only 1.6% of patients, tumor growth was not measurably enhanced by the nutritional solutions, and immunocompetence and tolerance for certain chemotherapeutic agents was improved.

¹ Presented at the Conference on Nutrition and Cancer Therapy, November 29 to December 1, 1976, Key Biscayne, Fla.

² Presenter.