Efficacy of nutritional interventions in patients with hypopharyngeal‑laryngeal and esophageal cancers treated with radiotherapy

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effects of nutritional interventions in patients with hypopharyngeal‑laryngeal and esophageal cancers treated with radiotherapy. Patients who received clinical intervention were compared with a control group. The intervention group received active nutritional support according to the regimen developed by the study team, while the control group followed a normal diet at the hospital or at home. After 1 month, in the intervention group, the patients' weight increased by 0.5±1.7 kg, while in the control group, the patients weight decreased by 1.6±1.9 kg. In addition, body mass index in the intervention group increased by 0.2±0.6 kg/m², whereas this decreased by 0.6±0.7 kg/m² in the control group. Significant differences between the groups were observed for both parameters (P<0.001). As regards the quality of life, the general symptoms of the patients in the intervention group improved (a decrease of 3.4±11.9 points), while those in the control group tended to worsen (an increase of 5.5±12.6 points). Specifically, fatigue, and vomiting and nausea decreased by 2.4±18.0 and 7.3±23.9 points in the intervention group, respectively, whereas these increased by 8.0±16.5 and 9.9±26.4 points, respectively in the control group, with differences between groups being statistically significant for both parameters (P<0.05). On the whole, the present study demonstrates that for patients with hypopharyngeal‑laryngeal and esophageal cancers who are at a high risk of developing malnutrition, active nutritional interventions during radiotherapy improve the nutritional status and, ultimately, the quality of life of the patients.