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Nutritional Supplementation in Head and Neck Cancers

Phase 2
Recruiting
Conditions
Nutritional Deficiency
Malnourishment
Undernutrition
Interventions
Other: Resource® Support Plus
Registration Number
NCT05379712
Lead Sponsor
AHS Cancer Control Alberta
Brief Summary

The purpose of this study is to determine whether multimodal nutrition therapy (primary nutrition intervention + adjuvant nutrition therapy) will support patients to optimize their total caloric intake during cancer treatment by measuring the difference in mean cumulative energy intake between the intervention and control group over the duration of cancer treatment.

Detailed Description

This will be an randomized, open label, parallel assignment study during cancer treatment (Baseline - Week 7 for Primary endpoint) comparing multimodal oral nutrition therapy versus standard care. Starting at Week 8, all patients receive the intervention arm until study ends at Week 14. Patients in the intervention arm continue the intervention, patients on the standard care arm cross over to the intervention (deferred nutrition intervention).

The primary objective is to assess a multimodal nutrition therapy with two Medical Foods (primary nutrition intervention+ adjuvant nutrition therapy) with features adapted for patients with cancers of the head and neck receiving chemo-radiotherapy treatment, to maintain oral dietary intake during treatment.

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
RECRUITING
Sex
All
Target Recruitment
81
Inclusion Criteria
  1. Patients must have the ability to read, understand, and sign an informed consent and must be willing to comply with study treatment and follow-up.
  2. Male or female
  3. ≥18 years of age
  4. Histopathologically confirmed primary squamous cell carcinoma of the oral cavity and oropharynx, larynx or hypopharynx, who have agreed to receive radical intent radiotherapy as primary treatment or adjuvant treatment post-surgery, with or without platinum chemotherapy
  5. Capable of volitional oral nutritional intake at baseline.
  6. A diagnostic CT image taken with a maximum of 30 days before initiation of radical intent radiotherapy. If the CT scan history in the patient's clinical record does not include a study within this window, a baseline non-contrast enhanced CT abdomen will be conducted.
  7. An Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group Performance Status of ≤ 2
Exclusion Criteria
  1. Fed by nasogastric tube, gastrostomy or total parenteral nutrition
  2. Cancer of the nasopharynx, thyroid or salivary gland
  3. Life expectancy <6 months.
  4. A known hypersensitivity / allergy to the investigational product or to any ingredient in their formulations (e.g. Milk/Lactose, Fish).
  5. Enrolment in any other clinical protocol or investigational study with an interventional agent or assessments that may interfere with study procedures.
  6. Patients with untreated brain metastases (patients with previously resected and/or radiated brain metastases without neurologic symptoms are permitted).
  7. Poorly controlled chronic illnesses or other inflammatory diseases (e.g. COPD, uncontrolled non-insulin dependent diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis).
  8. In the investigators' opinion, patients who have medical conditions that could interfere with nutrient metabolism or absorption (e.g., short bowel syndrome, Crohn's disease, etc.)

Study & Design

Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Study Design
CROSSOVER
Arm && Interventions
GroupInterventionDescription
Multimodal Nutrition TherapyResource® Support PlusTo assess a multimodal nutrition therapy (primary nutrition intervention+ adjuvant nutrition therapy) with features adapted for patients with cancers of the head and neck receiving chemo-radiotherapy treatment, to maintain oral dietary intake during treatment. The regimen consists of 2 medical foods, each taken on an unrestricted basis (as and when preferred by each patient). Resource® Support Plus, a nutritionally complete Medical Food specifically for the dietary management of oncology patients with (risk of) malnutrition. BOOST® Soothe, a Medical Food formulated as a clear oral nutritional supplement for cancer patients with sensory alterations or oral discomfort due to cancer treatments, in particular chemo- and/or radiotherapy.
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Change in mean cumulative energy intakeUp to 14 weeks

Energy intake is calculated from a one-day diet record in which the patient lists the identity and quantity of all foods and beverages consumed in the designated 24 hour time period at the end of each week (Baseline - Week 14).

Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Change in mean cumulative protein takeUp to 14 Weeks

Energy intake is calculated from a one-day diet record in which the patient lists the identity and quantity of all foods and beverages consumed in the designated 24 hour time period at the end of each week (Baseline - Week 14)

Change in body weight (kg)Baseline-Week 14

Change in weight (kg) from the previous week.

Head and Neck Symptom ChecklistUp to 14 weeks

A survey tool for HNC patient self-assessment of the presence and degree of interference with eating, over the past 3 days, of 17 symptoms known to impact dietary intake. Scores range from 34 to 170 pts, where higher scores reflect a greater presence and interference with eating. Completed at weeks 0, 4, 7, 11, 14

Change in Nutritional blood biomarkersBaseline measures will be compared to levels at weeks 7 and 14

A sample of blood will be collected for albumin, absolute neutrophil count, lymphocyte count, C-reactive protein, standard complete blood count-differential White Blood cell count and to measure serum CRP and albumin

Medication use for painUp to 14 weeks

Use of pain medication will be captured weekly by a one- day pain medication log.

Functional Assessment of Anorexia-Cachexia Treatment (FAACT) 5 Question Anorexia/Cachexia subscale (AC/S)Up to 14 weeks

The FAACT is a validated Quality of Life Scale to capture patient experience of cancer related cachexia - anorexia. Completed at weeks 0, 4, 7,11, 14

Product Sensory Assessment questionnaireUp to 14 weeks

A product evaluation form for the Medical Nutrition products will be used to evaluate product overall sensory assessment, including acceptance and perception of characteristic product attributes that influence overall sensory acceptance. Medical Nutrition sensory acceptance will be evaluated by "overall liking" on the 9-point hedonic scale (1= dislike extremely; 9 = like extremely). Completed at weeks 0, 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14.

Tertiary hospital admissionUp to 14 weeks

Review of patient medical records for instances of hospitalization with date(s) of admission falling between baseline and week 14 of study.

Cumulative energy intake (kcal/kg BW)Up to 14 weeks

Energy intake is calculated from a one-day diet record in which the patient lists the identity and quantity of all foods and beverages consumed in the designated 24 hour time period at the end of each week (Baseline - Week 14)

Percent oral intake from oral nutritional supplementsUp to 14 weeks

The volume (mL) of study products consumed will be determined from the weekly one-day diet record.

Taste and smell surveyUp to 14 weeks

A survey tool for patient self-assessment of the presence, characterization and severity of taste and smell alterations. This tool yields a 'chemosensory complaint score' of up to 16 (greatest severity of taste and smell alterations). Completed at weeks 0, 4, 7, 11, 14.

Cumulative protein take (g pro/kg BW)Up to 14 weeks

Protein intake is calculated from a one-day diet record in which the patient lists the identity and quantity of all foods and beverages consumed in the designated 24 hour time period at the end of each week (Baseline - Week 14)

Change in computed-tomography (CT) defined skeletal muscle and fat mass)Within 30 days prior to start of treatment, Week 14

Imaging for body composition (muscle, fat)

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Cross Cancer Institute

🇨🇦

Edmonton, Alberta, Canada

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