RESUMEN
OBJECTIVE: The assessment of prognostic nutritional index (PNI) before and during radiotherapy is an important parameter for the prognosis in patients with cancer. In this study, enteral tube feeding (ETF) was used during radiotherapy in patients with EC. Dynamic changes of various nutritional indicators (including PNI) were monitored. METHODS: Patients with EC who underwent radiotherapy between June 2016 and July 2017 were enrolled. ETF was performing with the energy of 25 kcal × kg/d. Nutritional status were evaluated. Least significant difference (LSD) was used for multiple comparisons between groups. RESULTS: A total of 148 patients were admitted, including 51 patients fed via ETF. For patients who were not scheduled to nutritional support, significant difference were observed in albumin (ALB) (P < 0.001), prealbimnin (PA) (P = 0.05) and PNI (P < 0.001) compared to levels before radiotherapy. In the patients fed via enteral tube, no significant difference were found in weight, BMI, ALB, retinol binding protein (RBP) and PA before and after radiotherapy, while PNI significantly decreased (P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: After preforming ETF with the energy of 25 kcal × kg/d in patients with EC during radiotherapy, PNI, the key nutritional index reflecting prognosis, significantly decreased.