The changing landscape of head and neck cancer radiotherapy patients: is high-risk, prolonged feeding tube use indicative of on-treatment weight loss?

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Anderson, Nigel J
Jackson, James E
Wada, Morikatsu
Schneider, Michal
Poulsen, Michael
Rolfo, Maureen
Fahandej, Maziar
Gan, Hui
Khoo, Vincent
Griffith University Author(s)
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2019
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Abstract

Introduction: Precision radiotherapy relies heavily on optimal weight management. Our group previously developed a risk stratification model for patients at risk of prolonged feeding tube (FT) intervention. The study objective was to assess on-treatment weight loss according to stratified risk of prolonged FT use. Methods: One hundred and one (n = 101) definitive head and neck radiotherapy patients were included in this study. Patients were stratified into high risk (HRi: T-classification ≥ 3 with level 2 Nodal disease), high-intermediate risk (HIRi: T-classification ≥ 3 without level 2 Nodes) and low-intermediate risk (LIRi: T-classification < 3 with level 2 Nodes) of prolonged FT use. Demographic variables and on-treatment weight loss were evaluated according to risk status. Results: Oropharyngeal carcinoma (OPC) was present in a larger proportion in the LIRi cohort (HRi: 71%, HIRi: 52%, LIRi: 81%, P = 0.008). LIRi patients were more likely to have human papilloma virus (HPV)-associated disease (88%, P = 0.001). Never/minimal smoking (P = 0.003), good performance status (P < 0.001), healthy BMI (P = 0.050) and no pre-existing dysphagia (P < 0.001) were predominant within the LIRi prognostic group. LIRi patients lost significantly more weight in total (HRi = 4.8% vs. LIRi = 8.2%, P = 0.002; HIRi = 5.2% vs. LIRi = 8.2%, P = 0.006) and when using a FT (HRi = 4.6% vs. LIRi = 8.8%, P < 0.001; HIRi = 5.3% vs. LIRi = 8.8%, P = 0.002). Conclusions: Patients identified as low-intermediate risk of prolonged, ≥25% FT use report significantly increased weight loss compared with patients at higher risk of FT use. This cohort is typical of the increasing number of patients presenting with HPV-associated OPC. Results of this study suggest we should closely observe such patients throughout treatment, to ensure optimal weight maintenance, facilitating precision radiotherapy.

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Journal of Medical Radiation Sciences

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66

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4

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© 2019 The Authors. Journal of Medical Radiation Sciences published by John Wiley & Sons Australia, Ltd on behalf of Australian Society of Medical Imaging and Radiation Therapy and New Zealand Institute of Medical Radiation Technology. This is an open access article under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits use, distribution and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

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Oncology and carcinogenesis

Science & Technology

Life Sciences & Biomedicine

Radiology, Nuclear Medicine & Medical Imaging

feeding tube

head and neck cancer

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Anderson, NJ; Jackson, JE; Wada, M; Schneider, M; Poulsen, M; Rolfo, M; Fahandej, M; Gan, H; Khoo, V, The changing landscape of head and neck cancer radiotherapy patients: is high-risk, prolonged feeding tube use indicative of on-treatment weight loss?, Journal of Medical Radiation Sciences, 2019, 66 (4), pp. 250-258

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