Nutritional Status Assessment in Head and Neck Cancer Patients Receiving Radiotherapy or Chemo-radiotherapy

Head and neck cancer is one of the most common malignancies in the world, Malnutrition occurs frequently at the time of diagnosis as consequences of alcohol consumption and tobacco use that is quite common in this patients population, and of local tumor invasion, obstructing the function of swallowing and chewing. In addition, during the treatment, mucositis, anorexia, dysphagia, mouth sores, and other acute and late toxic effects of radiotherapy (RT) and chemotherapy frequently worsen the nutritional status.

Poor nutritional status and chemotherapy or RT-toxicity, lead to treatment interruption frequently and is also associated with higher risk of infection, hospital readmission, early death, worse survival outcomes, and deterioration in the quality of life (QoL). According to published results, one third of the patient would have benefit from a complete treatment. In addition, the correlation exists between some biological parameters (CRP, albumin, neutrophils, Hb) and the nutritional status. Therefore, it deems essential to maintain nutritional status in head and neck cancer patients undergoing RT and chemotherapy.

Dietary counseling and oral supplements showed positive influences on nutritional outcomes and QoL However, their role is limited when it comes to obstruction or mucositis. Thus, enteral feeding may be a choice either through nasogastric tube (NGT) or percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG). Studies investigated the effects of PEG compared with NGT were not conclusive or showing no consistent results on nutritional status, treatment interruption, nutrition-related hospital admission, and tube-related complications in the head and neck cancer patients receiving RT or chemo-radiotherapy.

The optimal method and the timing of placement are still debated. Consequently, the aim of this study is to collect data on our current daily practice on supplementary nutrition method ( NGT, PEG) in head and neck cancers patients treated in our radiation therapy unit and to identify factors predicting good treatment outcomes( ie full treatment administration).

Secondary objectives are to collect nutritional data during the treatment, to study the nutritional status in relation to acute or late adverse events, to study the impact of an early enteral feeding on clinical and biological parameters.

Ancillary study: Sarco-Nutrineck The aim of this ancillary study is to collect data on prevalence of low muscle mass in this population, treatment outcomes and survival.

Study measures:

At baseline: body height and weight, calculated BMI. Biological parameters: albumin, orosomucoid, transthyretin, CRP Daily - during the treatment period: weight Weekly - during the treatment period: albumin, orosomucoid, transthyretin, CRP. The Nutritional and inflammatory status score will be calculated.

Clinical criteria on the requirement of enteral nutrition (or need for artificial nutrition) in case of weight loss persisting at least for three days during radiotherapy:

The aim of this study is to investigate whether nutritional screening on admission can be used to determine risk levels for adverse clinical events and treatment outcome ( full treatment administration) in head and neck cancer and to propose a risk stratification based on nutritional screening before radiotherapy or concomitant chemo radiotherapy.

tube (NGT) will be placed according to the following procedure: The weight will be assessed on daily basis and will be compared to the figure at baseline, before treatment. If the weight loss is superior to 2 kg, the patient will consult a radiotherapist who will perform a physical examination, a nutritional assessment (history, appetite change, taste, quantity and quality of oral food intake, medication, details regarding weight change and BMI). In addition to dietary counselling and oral supplementation, If indicated, analgesic drugs and or treatment of associated mucositis will be prescribed.

In case of persisting weight loss or severe dysphagia or no oral solid food intake, a nasogastric tube (NGT) will be placed by a nurse and a personalized nutritional counselling by a dietician will be organized.

Biological exams will be done according to our local practice and standard, and the results will be analyzed to assess the safety. Regular clinical exams will be realized. All adverse events will reported according to the common terminology criteria for adverse events scale.

Follow-up period. The patients will benefit from a clinical exam, height, weight, BMI, biological exam (including albumin, orosomucoid, transthyretin, CRP) one month after the end of the treatment, and then at three months and at twelve months, late toxicities will be recorded.

The aim of this study is to investigate whether nutritional screening on admission can be used to determine risk levels for adverse clinical events and treatment outcome (full treatment administration) in head and neck cancer and to propose i) isk stratification based on nutritional screening before radiotherapy or concomitant chemo radiotherapy ii) decisional algorithm on placement of a NGT