High miR-511-3p Expression as a Potential Predictor of a Poor Nutritional Status in Head and Neck Cancer Patients Subjected to Intensity-Modulated Radiation Therapy.

Nutritional deficiencies, including malnutrition and its irreversible type cachexia, are often observed in patients with head and neck cancer (HNC). Among the various factors contributing to the occurrence of these disorders, inflammation seems to be crucial. The potential regulatory properties of miR-511-3p, e.g., post-translational alteration of expression of genes with protein products that are involved in inflammation, may be related to nutritional deficiencies observed in HNC patients. Therefore, the aim of our study was to assess the correlation between pretreatment miR-511-3p expression and nutritional status in patients undergoing radiotherapy (RT) due to HNC. In our retrospective study, 60 consecutively admitted patients treated with intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) due to advanced HNC were enrolled. The analysis of miR-511-3p expression was performed using real-time PCR. Significantly higher expression of miR-511-3p was observed in well-nourished patients compared to patients with moderate or severe malnutrition (p = 0.0001). Pretreatment expression of miR-511-3p may be a useful biomarker of nutritional deficiencies in patients subjected to IMRT due to HNC.

Union is strength: Textbook outcome with perioperative chemotherapy compliance decreases the risk of death in advanced gastric cancer patients.

PURPOSE: Perioperative chemotherapy (POC) in advanced gastric cancer (GC) patients significantly increases the curative resection rate and overall survival (OS). Textbook outcome (TO) represents a composite of surgical quality metrics strongly associated with improved OS. However, the current definition of TO after resection for GC does not include POC. Herein we propose to supplement the current description of TO with an additional feature, POC compliance. The present study aimed to evaluate prognostic impact of thus defined textbook oncological outcome (TOO) among patients undergoing gastrectomy for advanced GC. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We collected data from a prospectively maintained database of all patients operated for GC between 2010 and 2020 in our institution. Patients with histologically confirmed and resectable advanced GC but without distant metastases, in whom multimodal treatment was planned by institutional MDT were included. RESULTS: A total of 194 patients were analyzed. In the multivariate analysis, patients with TOO had a 50 % lower risk of death than patients without TOO (medians: NR vs 42 months; HR = 0.50, p = 0.0109). Patients treated with POC had a 43 % lower risk of death than patients treated with only preoperative chemotherapy (medians: 78 vs 33 months; HR = 0.57, p = 0.0450). Patients with a pathological response (PR) in the primary tumor had a 59 % lower risk of death than patients without PR (medians: NR vs 36 months; HR = 0.41, p = 0.0229). POC combined with TO surgery significantly decreased the risk of death in advanced GC patients (medians: NR vs 42 months; HR = 0.35, p = 0.0258). CONCLUSION: Since TOO is associated with improved survival, it may serve as a multimodal treatment quality parameter in patients with advanced GC.

Polymorphism of The Regulatory Region of the ITGAM Gene (-323G>A) as a Novel Predictor of a Poor Nutritional Status in Head and Neck Cancer Patients Subjected to Intensity-Modulated Radiation Therapy.

BACKGROUND: The most serious disturbance of the nutritional status is neoplastic cachexia. The main factor contributing to the development of cachexia is the ongoing inflammatory process. The gene associated with the development of the inflammatory response is ITGAM. Therefore, the aim of the study was to assess the relationship between a single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP)-323G>A of the ITGAM gene and the occurrence of nutritional disorders in patients undergoing radiotherapy (RT) due to head and neck cancers (HNC). METHODS: The study involved 71 patients with HNC treated with intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT). SNP analysis of the ITGAM gene (-323G>A) was performed using commercial molecular probes and Real-Time PCR. RESULTS: The presence of the A allele of the ITGAM gene significantly (over 14-fold) reduced the risk of severe disturbances in nutritional status assessed according to the subjective global assessment (SGA) scale (odds ratio (OR) = 0.07; p = 0.0213). The GG genotype of this gene was associated with an over three-fold higher risk of shortened overall survival (OR = 3.01; p = 0.0376). CONCLUSIONS: Determination of the SNP (-323G>A) of the ITGAM gene may prove to be a useful marker in the assessment of the risk of nutritional disorders in patients with HNC undergoing RT.

Anthropometrical and Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis Parameters in Anorexia Nervosa Patients' Nutritional Status Assessment.

Background and Objectives: Body mass index (BMI) is still the only recommended measurable nutritional status assessment parameter in anorexia nervosa (AN). The aim of this study was to measure other anthropometrical and bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) parameters in AN patients and to evaluate their nutritional status assessment value. Materials and Methods: The 46 AN female patients were examined at the beginning of hospitalization and followed-up in three measurements (in 6 ± 2 weeks' intervals). Anthropometrical assessment was based on BMI, circumferences of arm, calf, thigh, hips, waist, their ratio (waist-to-hip ratio (WHR)), and a skinfold test over biceps and triceps muscle, under the scapula, over the hip, and 2 cm from the umbilicus. The BIA parameters included phase angle (PA), membrane capacitance (Cm), and impedance at 200 kHz, and a 5 kHz ratio (Z200/5). Results: In the 1st measurement, BMI correlated with all anthropometric and BIA parameters (p < 0.05). For BIA parameters, the correlation included arm circumference and WHR (p < 0.05). In the follow-up, significant changes were observed in BMI and all BIA parameters. The correlation between BMI and all BIA parameters was present in the 2nd and 3rd measurements (p < 0.05). In the 4th measurement, BMI correlated only with Cm (p = 0.0114). Comparison of BIA parameters according to the state of starvation (BMI < 16.0 kg/m2) revealed that all studied BIA parameters were characterized by statistically significant sensitivity and specificity in the detection of this condition (p < 0.05), except PA in the 4th measurement (p = 0.2099). Conclusions: Selected BIA and anthropometrical parameters could be used for AN patients' assessment. The study confirmed dynamic changes of BIA parameters during the follow-up. They could be useful in the detection of the state of starvation.