Current indications for intravenous nutritional support in oncology patients

No clear role has yet been defined for the role of total parenteral nutrition in the management of the cancer patient, and this subject remains an area of controversy. Peri-operative nutritional support, if given for at least 10 days, may reduce morbidity and mortality in some patients, although this subgroup has not been fully characterized. There is no evidence that parenteral nutritional support benefits patients undergoing chemotherapy or radiotherapy in terms of an increased tumor response rate or prolongation of survival.