title: Effect of total parenteral nutrition on survival in advanced colon cancer.
abstract: To determine if total parenteral nutrition (TPN) with constant infusion of hypertonic glucose and amino acids by central vein (35 kcal/kg/day) would influence survival in advanced colorectal carcinoma, 50 patients were randomized to receive either chemotherapy alone or the same drugs plus TPN for 14 days before treatment and a variable period thereafter. Overall median survival was significantly decreased in the TPN patients (79 vs 305 days, P = 0.03). Survival was significantly decreased in the TPN patients who had lost the least percentage of premorbid weight (0-6%) (66 vs 398 days, P = 0.02), and in all TPN males (61 vs 209 days, P = 0.03), when compared to similar controls. TPN did not increase survival in any patient subcategory. Catheter-related and metabolic complications were uncommon. We conclude that TPN as used in this study did not prolong median survival in the group as a whole, and may have shortened survival in males and in patients with little or no prior weight loss.
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003110:Colonic Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000556:secondary; D008297:Male; D010288:Parenteral Nutrition / Q000009:adverse effects; D010289:Parenteral Nutrition, Total / Q000009:adverse effects; D012737:Sex Factors