Open AccessEarly body weight loss during concurrent chemo‐radiotherapy for non‐small cell lung cancer
Author(s) -
Op den Kamp Céline M. H.,
De Ruysscher Dirk K. M.,
van den Heuvel Marieke,
Elferink Meike,
Houben Ruud M. A.,
Oberije Cary J. G.,
Bootsma Gerben P.,
Geraedts Wiel H.,
Pitz Cordula C. M.,
Langen Ramon C.,
Wouters Emiel F. M.,
Schols Annemie M. W. J.,
Dingemans AnneMarie C.
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
journal of cachexia, sarcopenia and muscle
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.803
H-Index - 66
eISSN - 2190-6009
pISSN - 2190-5991
DOI - 10.1007/s13539-013-0127-5
Subject(s) - weight loss , radiation therapy , chemo radiotherapy , medicine , lung cancer , cancer , oncology , obesity
Background and purpose Radiation‐esophagitis and weight loss are fre.uently observed toxicities in patients treated with concurrent chemo‐radiotherapy (CT‐RT) for non‐small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and might be related. The purpose was to investigate whether weight loss already starts early after initiation of CT‐RT and precedes radiation‐esophagitis. Materials and methods In a retrospective cohort, weight and esophagitis grade ≥2 were assessed during the first weeks of (CT‐)RT in patients treated with concurrent ( n = 102) or sequential ( n = 92) therapy. In a prospective validation study, data on body weight, esophagitis grade ≥2, nutritional intake and muscle strength were obtained before, during and following CT‐RT. Results In the retrospective cohort, early weight loss was observed in concurrently treated patients ( p = 0.002), independent of esophagitis ≥ grade 2. Early weight loss was also observed in the prospective cohort ( p = 0.003) and was not accompanied by decreases in nutritional intake. In addition lower limb muscle strength rapidly declined ( p = 0.042). In the later weeks of treatment, further body weight loss occurred ( p < 0.001) despite increased nutritional supplementation and body weight was only partly recovered after 4 weeks post CT‐RT ( p = 0.003). Conclusions Weight loss during concurrent CT‐RT for NSCLC starts early and prior to onset of esophagitis, re.uiring timely and intense nutritional rehabilitation. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1007/s13539‐013‐0127‐5) contains supplementary material.