Impact of Nutritional Status on Severe Radiation-Induced Mucositis in Oropharyngeal Cancer Patients Undergoing Chemo-Radiotherapy.

Background/

Objectives

Severe radiation-induced mucositis (RIM) is the most distressing acute side effect experienced by oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OPSCC) patients during chemo-radiotherapy (CRT), with a prevalence between 40 and 68%. RIM severity exhibits a multifactorial etiology that remains unclear. We aimed to analyze nutritional and morphofunctional predictive factors for severe RIM in OPSCC patients undergoing CRT.

Methods

A prospective cohort study was conducted. Global Leadership Initiative on Malnutrition (GLIM) criteria, bioelectrical impedance vector analysis (BIVA), functional assessment and dosimetric analysis were performed prior to radiotherapy.

Results

Eighty-two patients were analyzed. Severe RIM affected 46.3% of patients. Severe malnutrition according to GLIM (p = 0.011), prolonged Timed Up and Go (TUG) test (p = 0.025) and larger PTV54 volume (p = 0.049) were independent predictive factors for severe RIM, while higher fat-free mass (FFM) (p = 0.006) showed a protective effect.

Conclusions

These findings highlight the importance of a comprehensive early nutritional assessment for accurately identifying patients at a higher risk of severe RIM.