Individualized Whole Course Nutrition Management for Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma Patients Undergoing Radiotherapy.

BACKGROUND: Radiotherapy-induced oral mucositis (RIOM) is the most common toxicity associated with radiotherapy for nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). Patients with RIOM become malnourished, which can affect the delivery and dose of radiotherapy. The value of personalizing nutrition recommendations for cancer prevention and management is increasingly recognized. To investigate the effect of individualized whole course nutrition management on nutritional status and the incidence and severity of RIOM in NPCs. METHODS: This retrospective study included 77 patients who were provided individualized whole course nutrition management during radiotherapy (RT) and a 1-month follow-up. Seventy-one patients were included in the control group. RESULTS: During radiotherapy, severity of RIOM was significantly lower in the intervention group. There were statistically significant differences in oral mucosa recovery time and nutritional status between the two groups (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Individualized whole course nutrition management had the potential to maintain nutritional status and decrease the adverse effects of radiotherapy in NPCs.

Continuous quality improvement of nutrition management during radiotherapy in patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma.

AIM: To investigate the effect of implementing a model for continuous quality improvement in the nutritional management of patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) treated with radiotherapy. DESIGN METHODS: In the intervention group (n = 77), a model for the continuous quality improvement of efforts at nutrition management was implemented. These efforts included the development of a new process for nutrition management, a system to provide nutritional support and the use of targeted intervention plans to improve nutrition. The time from diagnosis to the administration of radiation therapy, the severity of oral mucositis and dietary factors were recorded and considered in the development of targeted nutrition intervention and nutrition education. The control group (n = 71) followed the original procedures for nutrition management. RESULTS: The study found that the CQI model can decrease the severity of oral mucositis caused by radiation and improve nutritional status in affected patients.

Effect of thalidomide in combination with gemcitabine on human pancreatic carcinoma SW-1990 cell lines in vitro and in vivo.

Pancreatic cancer is one of the most frequently occurring malignancies worldwide and it is the fourth most common cause of cancer-associated mortality in Western countries. Thalidomide (THD) plays an important role in tumor therapy, as it is able to promote early stage apoptosis and inhibit the process of angiogenesis. The present study evaluated the ability of the combination of THD and gemcitabine (GEM) to inhibit the growth of the pancreatic cancer SW-1990 cell line in vitro and in vivo. Early apoptosis in the SW-1990 cells was detected by the Annexin V/propidium iodide double staining method, the level of B-cell lymphoma 2 (Bcl-2) and Bcl-2-associated X protein (Bax) were detected by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and western blot analysis. In addition, the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor in transplanted tumor tissue was measured by RT-PCR, immunohistochemistry and western blot analysis. Cluster of differentiation 34 positivity was considered to indicate the microvessel density. Subsequent to treatment with THD and GEM alone or in combination, it was found that the expression of Bax was upregulated, while the expression of Bcl-2 was downregulated, and the growth of SW-1990 cells and transplanted tumors in nude mice was evidently inhibited. The administration of THD in combination with GEM may demonstrate a potent antitumor effect that increases with increasing dose. The mechanism behind the antitumor effect may be associated with the inhibition of tumor angiogenesis and induction of the apoptosis pathway.