Tolerance to Immunomodulatory Nutritional Therapy in Oncology Patients Undergoing Chemotherapy and Radiotherapy

Tolerance to Immunomodulatory Nutritional Therapy in Oncology Patients Undergoing Chemotherapy and Radiotherapy

The importance of nutritional support is established in some types of neoplasms, especially those involving the digestive tract. Recently, nutritional supplements containing substances with proposed immunomodulatory action have been developed. It is still unclear whether the use of immunomodulatory supplements can reduce the occurrence of treatment-related toxicities in oncology, such as radiodermatitis and mucositis. The aim of this study is to investigate whether the use of supplements with immunomodulatory action could reduce the occurrence of cutaneous and mucosal toxicities in oncology treatment, such as radiodermatitis and diarrhea.

A prospective pilot study will be conducted to assess the use of immunomodulatory nutritional therapy in patients undergoing chemotherapy and radiotherapy for adjuvant or definitive cancer treatment at a service affiliated with Oncologia D'Or or at the Instituto do Câncer do Estado de São Paulo.

Inclusion Criteria:

1. Histological confirmation of carcinoma from one of the following two primary sites: breast (Cohort A); anal canal (Cohort B);
2. Localized disease, stages I-III, according to the 8th edition of TNM classification;
3. Indication for neoadjuvant TC-HP treatment, surgery, and adjuvant radiotherapy for breast cancer (Cohort A) or definitive chemoradiotherapy for anal canal cancer (Cohort B).

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Metastatic disease;
2. Inability to intake food orally;
3. Conditions that compromise the ability to ingest or absorb nutritional therapy, such as inflammatory bowel disease, intestinal perforation, intestinal obstruction, or uncontrolled lower gastrointestinal bleeding;
4. Previous radiotherapy in the same field where the current treatment will be performed.