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

Methods: 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.

Results: 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 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 values >0.05), and the level of hemoglobin (HGB) at the end of treatment was higher than that at the onset ( < 0.05).

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