Jun Deng1, Yan He2, Xue-Song Sun1, Jian-Mei Li1, Ming-Zhu Xin1, Wen-Qiong Li1, Zhen-Xiu Li1, Shan Nie1, Cong Wang1, Yan-Zhu Li1, Li-Ping Chen1, Lin-Min Chen1, Shi-Heng Zhu1, Jia-Wen Li1, Wen Hu1, Yu-Ying Fan1, Shan-Shan Guo1, Hai-Qiang Mai1. 1. Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine, 651 Dongfeng Road East, Guangzhou 510060, PR China; Department of Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, 651 Dongfeng Road East, Guangzhou 510060, PR China. 2. Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine, 651 Dongfeng Road East, Guangzhou 510060, PR China; Department of Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, 651 Dongfeng Road East, Guangzhou 510060, PR China. Electronic address: heyan@sysucc.org.cn.
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between a comprehensive nutritional index (CNI) and QoL in patients with NPC who undergo IMRT and to explore the relationship between CNI and survival. METHODS: 359 patients with newly diagnosed NPC were enrolled. QoL was assessed with the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire Core-30 and Quality of Life Questionnaire Head and Neck Cancer Module at three time points: before, immediately after, and 3 months after IMRT. The CNI comprised five values including body mass index, usual body weight percentage, hemoglobin, albumin, and total lymphocyte count, and was evaluated before and immediately after IMRT. The correlation between the CNI and QoL and the effect of CNI on prognosis were analysed. RESULTS: QoL and CNI scores decreased remarkably after IMRT (P < 0.05). The CNI was quite low in patients with III-IV clinical tumor stage and those undergoing induction chemotherapy plus concurrent chemotherapy. After IMRT, lower CNI score correlated worse QoL (P < 0.05). The Kaplan-Meier curve indicated that patients with lower CNI had significantly poorer survival outcomes (P = 0.02). In multivariate analysis, CNI remained an independent prognostic factor of overall survival (P = 0.046). CONCLUSIONS: CNI can be recommended as an appropriate indicator reflecting the integrated nutrition status of NPC patients. Low CNI was associated with poor QoL and predicted a poor survival outcome. More interventions should be taken to improve the nutrition status of NPC patients to improve QoL and enhance survival outcomes.
OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between a comprehensive nutritional index (CNI) and QoL in patients with NPC who undergo IMRT and to explore the relationship between CNI and survival. METHODS: 359 patients with newly diagnosed NPC were enrolled. QoL was assessed with the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire Core-30 and Quality of Life Questionnaire Head and Neck Cancer Module at three time points: before, immediately after, and 3 months after IMRT. The CNI comprised five values including body mass index, usual body weight percentage, hemoglobin, albumin, and total lymphocyte count, and was evaluated before and immediately after IMRT. The correlation between the CNI and QoL and the effect of CNI on prognosis were analysed. RESULTS: QoL and CNI scores decreased remarkably after IMRT (P < 0.05). The CNI was quite low in patients with III-IV clinical tumor stage and those undergoing induction chemotherapy plus concurrent chemotherapy. After IMRT, lower CNI score correlated worse QoL (P < 0.05). The Kaplan-Meier curve indicated that patients with lower CNI had significantly poorer survival outcomes (P = 0.02). In multivariate analysis, CNI remained an independent prognostic factor of overall survival (P = 0.046). CONCLUSIONS: CNI can be recommended as an appropriate indicator reflecting the integrated nutrition status of NPCpatients. Low CNI was associated with poor QoL and predicted a poor survival outcome. More interventions should be taken to improve the nutrition status of NPCpatients to improve QoL and enhance survival outcomes.