Effects of current parenteral nutrition treatment on health-related quality of life, physical function, nutritional status, survival and adverse events exclusively in patients with advanced cancer: A systematic literature review

• Published in: Critical reviews in oncology/hematology Vol. 139; pp. 96 - 107
• Main Authors: Tobberup, Randi, Thoresen, Lene, Falkmer, Ursula G., Yilmaz, Mette K., Solheim, Tora S., Balstad, Trude R.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Netherlands Elsevier B.V 01.07.2019
• Subjects: Cachexia; Intravenous nutrition; Palliative care; Performance status; Supportive care; Weight loss; Palliative care; Supportive care; Cachexia; Intravenous nutrition; Performance status; Weight loss
• ISSN: 1040-8428; 1879-0461
• DOI: 10.1016/j.critrevonc.2019.04.014

•Current parenteral nutrition treatment is understudied.•QoL and physical function may be improved by parenteral nutrition during anti-neoplastic treatment in patients unable to feed enterally.•Nutritional status may be improved by parenteral nutrition, regardless of anti-neoplastic treatment and gastrointestinal function.•Parenteral nutrition is not superior to dietary counselling in patients with functional gastrointestinal tract.•The incidence of adverse events in current parenteral nutrition treatment is low. The aim was to evaluate the effects of current parenteral nutrition (PN) treatment on clinical outcomes in patients with advanced cancer. This review was conducted according to the PRISMA guidelines (PROSPERO ID: 4201707915). Two underpowered randomized controlled trials and six observational studies were retrieved (n = 894 patients). Health-related quality of life and physical function may improve during anti-neoplastic treatment in who PN treatment is the only feeding opportunity, but not necessarily in patients able to feed enterally. Nutritional status may improve in patients regardless of anti-neoplastic treatment and gastrointestinal function. PN treatment was neither superior to fluid in terminal patients nor to dietary counselling in patients able to feed enterally in regards to survival. The total incidence of adverse events was low. Current PN treatment in patients with advanced cancer is understudied and the level of evidence is weak.