[Influences of antitumoral chemotherapy on body composition and nitrogen balance: experimental study]

An experimental study was carried out with the purpose to examine the 4-epidoxorubicine (4-EPI) action on malignant tumor development and its repercussion on nutritional conditions of the host. Cancer and chemotherapy can generate malnutrition. In order to study the nutritional repercussions, 48 host Wistar rats were divided into 5 groups: Group C: 12 control rats; Group T: 5 rats bearing Walker-256 carcinosarcoma; Group TE: 11 rats given 4-epidoxorubicine (4-EPI) EV simultaneously with tumor implantation; Group T6E: 8 rats given 4-EPI 6 days after the tumor implantation; Group E: 11 rats given only 4-EPI. Tumor and carcass weight and nitrogen balance (by measuring total nitrogen ingested and excreted) were determined daily; the animals were sacrificed on the 20th day of the experiment and material was collected for determination of body composition parameters. A variance analysis was made and the differences were considered to be significative at p less than 0.05. A loss of food during a period following the 4-EPI injection was reflected by carcass weight loss. The accumulated nitrogen incorporation was lower in Groups TE and T6E in the periods of 0-5 days, 0-14 days, and 0-20 days. As for body composition it was verified that free fat solids and total body fat were reduced in Groups T ant T6E when compared to group C. However, 20 days after the use of 4-EPI there were no significative changes in the body composition. In rats bearing Walker-256-carcinosarcoma 4-EPI was effective.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)