title: Nutritional status of patients with cancer of the bladder before and during radiation therapy. Influence on survival?
abstract: The food intake and the nutritional status was assessed before and during radiotherapy in 30 patients with local bladder tumours. Eighteen patients received preoperative treatment (42 Gy/4 weeks, followed by cystectomy), and 12 patients received potential curative treatment (63 Gy/6 weeks). Fourteen patients had small tumours (category I-II) and 16 patients large tumours (category III-IV). Four weeks radiotherapy did not affect energy or protein intake, but category I-II patients had a higher intake (163% of basal metabolic rate (BMR)) than category III-IV patients (138% of BMR) after 4 weeks radiotherapy (p less than 0.06). The energy intake in patients treated for 6 weeks was decreased from 147% of BMR to 122% (p less than 0.01). The mean energy intake in category III-IV patients was correlated to weight loss (Rs = -0.51, p less than 0.05). After 4 weeks radiotherapy the change in weight was for category III-IV patients greater than for category I-II patients. The other changes in antropometric and biochemical parameters (fat-free body mass (FFM), body fat, arm muscle circumference, serum albumin, serum transferrin) were small and insignificant. If the patients were grouped according to age, tumour category, histologic grade, treatment, weight/height (W/H) index and changes in weight and antropometric parameters, it was found that only W/H index and changes in weight during 4 weeks radiotherapy had significant influence on survival. The significance of W/H index was closely related to tumour classification.
mesh_terms: D000886:Anthropometry; D001823:Body Composition / Q000528:radiation effects; D001835:Body Weight / Q000528:radiation effects*; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D004044:Dietary Proteins / Q000008:administration & dosage; D002149:Energy Intake / Q000528:radiation effects*; D004734:Energy Metabolism / Q000528:radiation effects*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis; D011879:Radiotherapy Dosage; D001749:Urinary Bladder Neoplasms / Q000532:radiotherapy*
chemical_list: D004044:Dietary Proteins