NUTRITIONAL SUPPORT OF TUMOR PATIENTS

Cancer cachexia is a syndrom weight loss, anorexia, and loss of host body cell mass. Tumor cachexia may be a early symptom of a neoplasm. Low food intake is the main reason for weight loss. Surgery, chemotherapy and radiation remain primary therapeutic modalities to overcome cancer cachexia. Artificial nutrition is able to avoid progressive weight loss; nutrition alone may not preserve fat-free body cell mass. Parenteral nutrition reduces perioperative morbidity and mortality. Nutritional support failed to show a benefit in patients with malignancies which are treated with therapeutic radiation or chemotherapy. For patients with unresectable neoplasmas of the upper Gl-tract conventional palliative regimens (bougienage, laser etc.) do not support a satisfactory nutritional state. Ambulant enteral tube feeding via percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomie (PEG) as an adjunct to therapy is useful and safe in providing of adequate fluid and substrates.