Changes in Nutritional Status of Cancer Patients Undergoing Proton Radiation Therapy Based on Real-World Data

Observational study on 47 adult hospitalized cancer patients including 27 males and 20 females who received proton beam radiotherapy during December 2021 and August 2022. Nutritional assessments, 24 h dietary survey, handgrip strength (HGS) test, anthropometrical measurements, and hematological parameters were conducted or collected at the beginning and the completion of treatment.

The rate of nutritional risk and malnutrition among the total of 47 enrolled patients was 4.3% and 12.8% at the onset of proton radiation and raised up to 6.4% and 27.7% at the end of the treatment. 42.6% of patients experienced weight loss during the proton radiotherapy, and 1 of them had weight loss over 5%, and in general, the average body weight was stable over radiotherapy. The changes in patients' 24 h dietary intakes, HGS, and anthropometrical parameters, including triceps skinfold thickness (TSF), midupper arm circumference (MUAC), and midupper arm muscle circumference (MAMC), were statistically insignificant over the treatment (all p values > 0.05). The changes in patients' hematological parameters, including total protein (TP) and serum albumin (ALB), were not statistically significant over the treatment (all p values >0.05), and the level of hemoglobin (HGB) at the end of treatment was higher than that at the onset (p < 0.05).

The results of this study demonstrated that proton radiotherapy might have a lighter effect on the nutritional status of cancer patients.