Author of

• 12994

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  MO25 - NSCLC - Combined Modality Therapy II (ID 112)

  • Event: WCLC 2013
  • Type: Mini Oral Abstract Session
  • Track: Mesothelioma
  • Presentations: 1
  • Moderators:T. Le Chevalier, K. Pittman
  • Coordinates: 10/30/2013, 10:30 - 12:00, Parkside Ballroom B, Level 1

  • 13001

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    MO25.07 - Early onset body weight loss during concurrent chemo-radiotherapy for non-small cell lung cancer is not due to dysphagia or reduced calorie intake (ID 3409)

    10:30 - 12:00  |  Author(s): E. Wouters
    • Abstract
    • Presentation
    • Slides

    Background
    Increased treatment-associated esophagitis could be responsible for concurrent chemo-radiotherapy (CT-RT)-induced weight loss in patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). However, based on clinical observations, we hypothesized that weight loss already starts early after initiation of concurrent CT-RT and might therefore be not solely dependent on decreased intake due to esophagitis symptoms.

    Methods
    In a retrospective cohort, the onset and frequency of weight changes and their association with esophagitis grade ≥2 were assessed in patients with NSCLC treated with concurrent (n=102) or sequential (n=92) CT-RT. The findings in the retrospective cohort were validated in a prospective study in which weight loss and esophagitis grade ≥2 was assessed over a longer time period and additional data on nutritional intake, muscle strength and quality of life was obtained of patients treated with concurrent CT-RT (n=9).

    Results
    In the retrospective cohort, both the number of patients with weight loss and the magnitude of weight loss was significantly higher in concurrent than sequential treated patients in week 2, 3 and 4 of (CT-)RT (p<0.05). Longitudinal data analysis showed no significant associations between weight loss and grade esophagitis ≥2 in patients treated with concurrent CT-RT (p=0.10). In the prospective cohort, a similar pattern of ‘early’ weight loss was observed in the first weeks of concurrent CT-RT (p<0.05). This early weight loss was not accompanied by significant decreases in nutritional intake but muscle strength did already decline in this early stage (p<0.05). In the following weeks of concurrent CT-RT, the weight further decreased and reached its minimum at the end of treatment (p<0.05), while the number of patients with grade esophagitis ≥2 increased during this time period. During the later part of concurrent CT-RT, dietary intake was significantly lower and patients became more reliant on supplemental nutrition (p<0.05). Although the weight increased again in the weeks after concurrent CT-RT, it had still not reached the baseline level after 4 weeks post treatment (p<0.05).

    Conclusion
    Weight loss is a common complication of concurrent CT-RT for locally advanced NSCLC, starts early after initiation of CT-RT and is not dependent of esophagitis. It is presumably caused by active catabolism as this ‘early’ weight loss is accompanied by decreased muscle strength, despite stable dietary intake. In the later weeks of treatment, concurrent CT-RT is characterized by a further decline in body weight, decreased dietary intake and higher reliance on nutritional support. In this phase the occurrence of radiation-induced esophagitis grade ≥2 increases. In the weeks following concurrent CT-RT, partial recovery of body weight takes place but this is still not complete after 4 weeks post CT-RT. The sustained weight loss during and following concurrent CT-RT might have major negative consequences as weight loss in patients with underlying malignant disease might has been associated with higher mortality, lower treatment responses and decreases in quality of life. Though the origin of weight loss during concurrent CT-RT seems to be different in the subsequent phases, more aggressive supportive nutritional support throughout the treatment course seems conceivable to prevent negative energy balances and optimize concurrent CT-RT management.

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