Title:Specific Nutritional Supplement (Supportan®) in the Supportive Care of the Radio-Chemotherapy Treatment of Head and Neck Cancers: Biochemical Parameters. Preliminary Study
Volume: 13
Issue: 4
Author(s): Octavio Casbarien, Pablo Cresta, Carolina Silva, Maria S. Feliu, Alejandra Badia, Norberto L. Delgado, Alfredo Navigante and Nora Slobodianik
Affiliation:
Keywords:
Biochemical parameters, neck and Head cancer, nutritional status, nutritional supplement, radio-chemotherapy.
Abstract: Background: This is a preliminary study of a specific nutritional supplement –Supportan® - for the clinical
support of patients with locally advanced head and neck (H&N) cancers who underwent treatment with concurrent radiochemotherapy
(RT-CHT).
Material and Methods: Seven patients received nutritional supplement (Supportan®) plus habitual diet during a median
time of treatment with RT on 7.8 weeks plus concurrent weekly CHT(S). Specific serum protein fractions as a potential
useful tool to evaluate the nutritional status were determined. The main objective was to assess the compliance with the
above-mentioned treatment.
Results: Patients completed the nutritional support, 5 / 7 patients via oral route and 2/7 patients through nasogastric tube.
All studied patients, that completed treatment, had not severe mucositis –ulcera, hemrraghe and/ or infection. None of
them had another severe toxicity by treatment nor had impairment of Pefomance Status. No differences in all specific sera
proteins were observed between S and To.
Conclusion: In this preliminary study of few patients, we have observed a potential usefulness of Supportan® in the
compliance of concurrent RT-CHT in patients with H&N cancers; moreover, its administration was useful to maintain the
initial biochemical nutritional profile.
