Topic: New Perspectives for Nutritional Support Through Diet, Nutrition, Nutritional Supplements as Adjuvants to the Therapy of Cancer Patients

Patients diagnosed with cancer often present in a state of malnutrition, putting them at a high risk of losing vital bodily resources, leading to immunodeficiency, impaired quality of life, and poorer clinical outcomes. Research suggests that up to 90% of cancer patients use some form of complementary/adjuvant oncology medicine, which is increasingly recognized as vital in enabling patients to better tolerate aggressive or long-term anticancer therapies while maintaining optimal quality of life.

Nutrition, diet, and nutritional supplements constitute the primary components of complementary and adjuvant oncology medicine. Patients are increasingly seeking evidence-based guidance on nutrition and supplements tailored to their clinical situations, with the potential to enhance their quality of life and reduce the risk of recurrence. Although nutritional care is essential in managing oncological cachexia, it should not be limited to those with advanced or terminal cancer but should also be considered as a therapeutic option for all stages of cancer. Administered nutrients make it possible to modulate immune and metabolic functions, yielding beneficial clinical effects. Further investigation of the molecular signaling pathway and specific mechanisms of action of adjuvant nutrients in oncology could allow their use to target the main pathogenic mechanisms of cancer. In this Special Issue, we invite thought-provoking research articles, review articles, or commentaries that contribute to advancing the understanding of nutrition within the field of oncology.

Cancer, clinical nutrition, inflammation, immunonutrition, malnutrition, cachexia, cancer care, diet, nutritional supplements, metabolism

20 Sep 2024