The Role of Nutritional Status in the Treatment of Neuroblastoma

In Brazil, cancer represents the leading cause of death by disease in children and adolescents from 1 to 19 years old. Neuroblastomas correspond to nearly 10% of all cancer diagnoses among children younger than 15 years of age, with an incidence of 1 case per 100,000 children of this age group. About 500 new cases of neuroblastoma (NB) are diagnosed annually in Brazil. The complexity and intensity of treatment result in several treatment-related toxicities (TRT) that make it challenging to maintain nutritional status in these nutritionally at-risk patients. In Brazil, up to 26% of undernutrition at diagnosis has been found in patients with solid tumors. In neuroblastoma, high prevalence rates of malnutrition have been reported elsewhere with up to 80% of children at diagnosis and 20-50% during treatment classified as undernourished. It's important to underscore that nutritional status is a modifiable risk factor, therefore it needs more attention and close monitoring. It is important to better comprehend the effect of treatment for neuroblastoma on nutritional status and body composition, for which prospective longitudinal studies are required. Therefore, in this prospective cohort study, the investigators will evaluate the fluctuations in nutritional status over the course of treatment in children with neuroblastoma at the study center in São Paulo, Brazil. The results of this study will drive the development of evidence-based guidelines for the nutritional care of children with neuroblastoma and set research priorities for subsequent investigations.