Nutrition and Cancer-An International Journal最新文献

This randomized controlled trial evaluated the efficacy of an amino acid-based enteral nutrition (AAEN) formula within an Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) protocol for colorectal cancer surgery patients. Sixty patients were randomized to an AAEN group (n = 20), a short-peptide-based enteral nutrition (SP) group (n = 20), or a conventional nutrition (CON) group (n = 20). Primary outcomes were nutritional status, recovery indicators, complications, and inflammatory markers. On postoperative day 7, the AAEN group had significantly higher serum albumin (35.5 ± 2.9 g/L) and prealbumin (225 ± 38 mg/L) than the SP and CON groups (p < 0.01). Time to first flatus was shorter in the AAEN group (38.2 ± 5.8 h) than the SP (43.5 ± 6.9) and CON (52.1 ± 7.8) groups (p < 0.01). The AAEN group also had a shorter hospital stay (7.6 ± 1.3 days), lower complication rate (15.0%), and more favorable inflammatory and immune markers (p < 0.01). Perioperative AAEN enhances recovery, improves nutritional status, reduces complications, and modulates inflammatory and immune responses, supporting its integration as a preferred nutritional strategy within ERAS protocols.

Background: Radiotherapy for prostate cancer often leads to gastrointestinal toxicity, weight gain, fatigue, and reduced quality of life. Nutrition and lifestyle interventions are increasingly used in cancer care, yet evidence specific to men receiving radiotherapy remains limited.

Methods: We systematically searched PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and the Cochrane Library to June 2025 for studies evaluating nutrition and lifestyle interventions in adults undergoing radiotherapy for prostate cancer. Study quality was assessed using the Cochrane Risk of Bias tool, Newcastle-Ottawa Scale, and ROBINS-I.

Results: Nineteen studies were included. In radiotherapy-specific trials, individualized nutrition interventions showed potential to attenuate weight gain and manage gastrointestinal symptoms, while restrictive dietary modifications alleviated bowel complaints but were associated with declines in energy intake and nutritional status. Tomato-juice supplementation increased lycopene levels without consistent clinical benefit. In mixed-modality cohorts, dietary modifications were associated with meaningful weight loss and favorable changes in triglycerides, HDL, and HbA1c. Comprehensive lifestyle programs improved psychological distress, urinary symptoms, and quality of life.

Conclusions: Nutrition and lifestyle interventions show promising signals for improving weight control, symptoms, metabolic profiles, and quality of life during radiotherapy. Given the heterogeneity of evidence, more robust, radiotherapy-specific randomized trials with standardized endpoints are needed to confirm efficacy.

Gastric cancer (GC) patients are vulnerable to malnutrition due to abdominal discomfort, nausea, vomiting, and anorexia. The Prognostic Nutritional Index (PNI), which combines serum albumin and total lymphocyte count (TLC), has prognostic value for numerous malignancies including GC. GC patients who are malnourished have a higher incidence of surgical complications and worse long-term prognosis. Although the link between PNI and prognosis is well established, whether the PNI decreases while GC patients await surgery is unknown. The primary objective of this study of 124 GC patients was to determine whether the nutritional and immune status decreased during the preoperative period. Here we demonstrate that the PNI decreased due to reductions in both serum albumin and TLC (P < 0.001); the effects were greater in advanced vs. early-stage GC. Corresponding decreases in BMI were found (P < 0.001). Significant reductions in PNI occurred over time regardless of tumor location. Tumor diameter was positively associated with the magnitude of PNI decline (P < 0.01). Reductions in preoperative PNI/day were associated with worsening of progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS). Collectively, these results provide a strong rationale for future nutritional support studies that aim to attenuate the preoperative decline in PNI and improve outcomes of GC patients.

Malnutrition and cachexia affect the majority of patients with advanced lung cancer, driven by systemic inflammation (IL-6, TNF-α), metabolic dysregulation, and anorexia. These conditions worsen prognosis, reduce treatment tolerance, and diminish quality of life (QoL) and survival. Early recognition, utilizing tools such as the Patient-Generated Subjective Global Assessment (PG-SGA), is crucial. Nutritional support should align with patient-centered goals, prioritizing function and QoL rather than survival alone. Oral nutritional supplements (ONS), especially high-protein/EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid)- enriched formulas, enhance weight, muscle mass, and QoL but often face adherence challenges. Enteral nutrition (EN) supports patients with functional GI tracts and impaired intake (e.g., dysphagia), improving biomarkers and reducing complications. Parenteral nutrition (PN) should be limited to patients with intestinal failure due to infection risks and minimal survival benefits. Multimodal care, encompassing nutrition, exercise, and pharmacotherapy (e.g., appetite stimulants, investigational agents such as anamorelin), is crucial. Ethical, cultural, and legal considerations must guide decisions around artificial nutrition, emphasizing autonomy, informed consent, and respect for cultural beliefs. Barriers such as inconsistent screening and limited resources persist. Future research should focus on lung cancer-specific trials of EN, standardized cachexia definitions, and equitable access to nutritional support, especially in underserved populations.

Endometrial cancer (EC) is a gynecologic malignancy with rising incidence globally, particularly in countries experiencing nutritional transitions. Diet quality may influence EC risk, yet evidence from non-Western populations remains limited. We conducted a hospital-based case-control study involving 136 histologically confirmed EC cases and 272 age- and BMI-matched controls in Tehran, Iran. Dietary intake was assessed using a validated 168-item food frequency questionnaire. Healthy Eating Index-2020 (HEI-2020) were computed to evaluate diet quality. Logistic regression was employed to estimate odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs), controlling for reproductive factors, educational status, comorbidity, physical activity, and energy intake. Women in the highest tertile of HEI-2020 had 83% lower odds of EC compared to the lowest tertile (OR = 0.17; 95% CI: 0.09-0.30; P for trend < 0.001). The inverse association remained consistent across BMI categories and menopausal status. Greater intakes of vegetables, legumes, and plant-based proteins, along with reduced consumption of saturated fats, added sugars, and refined grains, were key dietary contributors. Greater adherence to the HEI-2020 was independently associated with reduced risk of EC among Iranian women. These findings emphasize the potential role of high-quality dietary patterns in cancer prevention and warrant confirmation in prospective studies across diverse populations.

Immunotherapy has recently garnered more attention in the treatment of breast cancer. Ginseng has been extensively utilized in immunomodulation. Acupuncture is acknowledged as an effective adjunctive therapy for treating various cancers through the modulation of the immune system. Nonetheless, the extent to which the combination of ginseng and acupuncture exerts an enhanced anti-tumor effect in breast cancer treatment remains unclear. This study assessed the impact of mountain-cultivated ginseng in conjunction with acupuncture on the anti-tumor immune response in breast cancer in a 4T1 xenograft BALB/c mouse model. The findings indicated acupuncture, when paired with mountain-cultivated ginseng, could augment the suppression of tumor growth. Acupuncture in conjunction with ginseng therapy enhanced the immunological activity of CD8⁺ cytotoxic T cells by elevating the numbers of IFN-γ⁺/CD8⁺ T cells and TNF-α⁺/CD8⁺ T cells, along with the release of many pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-2, IL-6, TNF-α, and IFN-γ). Furthermore, it was established that acupuncture in conjunction with ginseng therapy facilitated the degradation of PD-L1 and PD-1 via the Sirt1/AMPK-mediated autophagy pathway. This study revealed that the combination of acupuncture and ginseng treatment augmented the suppression of PD-1/PD-L1 immune checkpoint, hence amplifying the anti-tumor immune response and offering a potential method for breast cancer therapy.