Nutrition, morbidity, and survival in South African children with Wilms' tumor

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Oncology
• Clinical Nutrition
• Childhood Cancer Research

Background:

• Wilms' tumor (WT) is a common pediatric kidney cancer.
• Nutritional status at diagnosis can impact treatment outcomes in childhood cancers.
• Limited data exist on the specific effects of poor nutrition on WT treatment morbidity and survival.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the impact of poor nutritional status on treatment morbidity and survival in children with Wilms' tumor.
• To compare outcomes between well-nourished and poorly nourished children diagnosed with WT.
• To inform nutritional support strategies for WT patients in resource-limited settings.

Main Methods:

• Fifty-nine children with Wilms' tumor were categorized into normal or poorly nourished groups based on anthropometric parameters.
• Morbidity indicators including renal function, infections, and treatment interventions were compared between groups.
• Survival rates were projected and compared between the two nutritional groups.

Main Results:

• No significant differences were observed in age, disease stage, or morbidity between well-nourished and poorly nourished children.
• Specific complications such as elevated urea/creatinine, infections, and need for interventions did not differ.
• Projected survival rates were 56% for normal and 74% for poorly nourished children (p = .3), indicating no statistically significant impact.

Conclusions:

• Poor nutrition at diagnosis, assessed by anthropometry, did not adversely affect treatment morbidity or survival in children with Wilms' tumor.
• Selective dietary supplementation may be more appropriate than routine intensive parenteral nutrition for all WT patients in resource-limited settings.
• Further research into tailored nutritional interventions for pediatric cancer patients is warranted.