title: Specific nutritional supplement (Supportan®) in the supportive care of the radio-chemotherapy treatment of head and neck cancers: biochemical parameters. Preliminary study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  This is a preliminary study of a specific nutritional supplement -Supportan(®) - for the clinical support of patients with locally advanced head and neck (H&N) cancers who underwent treatment with concurrent radiochemotherapy (RT-CHT).
  
  
  METHODS
  Seven patients received nutritional supplement (Supportan(®)) plus habitual diet during a median time of treatment with RT on 7.8 weeks plus concurrent weekly CHT(S). Specific serum protein fractions as a potential useful tool to evaluate the nutritional status were determined. The main objective was to assess the compliance with the above-mentioned treatment.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Patients completed the nutritional support, 5 / 7 patients via oral route and 2/7 patients through nasogastric tube. All studied patients, that completed treatment, had not severe mucositis -ulcera, hemrraghe and/ or infection. None of them had another severe toxicity by treatment nor had impairment of Pefomance Status. No differences in all specific sera proteins were observed between S and To.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In this preliminary study of few patients, we have observed a potential usefulness of Supportan(®) in the compliance of concurrent RT-CHT in patients with H&N cancers; moreover, its administration was useful to maintain the initial biochemical nutritional profile.
authors.forename: Octavio
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Casbarien
authors.forename: Pablo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Cresta
authors.forename: Carolina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Silva
authors.forename: Maria S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Feliu
authors.forename: Alejandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Badia
authors.forename: Norberto L
authors.initials: NL
authors.lastname: Delgado
authors.forename: Alfredo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Navigante
authors.affiliation: Department of Nutrition, School of Pharmacy and Biochemistry, UBA, Junin 956- 2nd Floor, 1113 Buenos Aires, Argentina. nslobo@ffyb.uba.ar.
authors.forename: Nora
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Slobodianik
mesh_terms: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004044:Dietary Proteins / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D015118:Eicosapentaenoic Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005395:Fish Oils / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D006801:Humans; D044342:Malnutrition / Q000178:diet therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D018529:Nutritional Support / Q000379:methods*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D004044:Dietary Proteins; D005395:Fish Oils; D015118:Eicosapentaenoic Acid