Abstract
Goals
The aim of the study was to assess the impact of an eicosapentanoic acid-containing protein and energy dense oral nutritional supplement (EPA-ONS) on nutritional and inflammatory status, quality of life (QOL), plasma phospholipids (PPL) and cytokine profile, tolerance of irinotecan-containing chemotherapy and EPA-ONS in patients with advanced colorectal cancer (CRC) receiving chemotherapy.
Materials and methods
Patients with advanced CRC having one prior chemotherapy regimen received 480 ml of EPA-ONS daily for 3 weeks before commencing chemotherapy with folinic acid, 5-fluorouracil, irinotecan (FOLFIRI), and continued for 3 cycles of treatment (9 weeks). All assessments including weight, body composition, C-reactive protein (CRP), QOL, dietary intake, PPL and cytokine analyses were performed at baseline, 3 and 9 weeks.
Results
Twenty-three patients were enrolled, 20 completed 3 weeks, and 15 completed 9 weeks. The mean EPA-ONS intake was 1.7 tetrapaks (408 ml) daily. There was a significant increase in mean weight (2.5 kg) at 3 weeks (p = 0.03). Lean body mass (LBM) was maintained. Protein and energy intake significantly decreased after the commencement of chemotherapy (protein p = 0.003, energy p = 0.02). There was a significant increase in energy levels (p = 0.03), whilst all other QOL measures were maintained. PPL EPA levels increased significantly over the first 3 weeks. Mean CRP increased by 14.9 mg/L over the first 3 weeks (p = 0.004), but decreased to baseline levels by the end of the trial. There was a significant correlation between plasma IL-6 and IL-10 concentrations and survival, and between IL-12 and toxicity.
Conclusion
Dietary counseling and the provision of EPA-ONS may result in maintenance of nutritional status and QOL, however randomized trials are required to evaluate the impact of EPA on toxicity from chemotherapy.
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Acknowledgments
The EPA-containing supplement (ProSure™) was provided by Abbott Australasia. Dietary analysis was provided by Xingying Weng. The Sydney University Human Nutrition Unit and the Flinder’s Medical Centre Child Nutrition Research Centre conducted the fatty acid analysis. Westmead Hospital provided the cytokine analysis.
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Read, J.A., Beale, P.J., Volker, D.H. et al. Nutrition intervention using an eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA)-containing supplement in patients with advanced colorectal cancer. Effects on nutritional and inflammatory status: a phase II trial. Support Care Cancer 15, 301–307 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00520-006-0153-3
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00520-006-0153-3