PD885 - THE NOURISH-HNC STUDY: A PROSPECTIVE COHORT STUDY OF NUTRITIONAL AND METABOLIC STATUS IN PATIENTS WITH HEAD AND NECK CANCER

PD885

THE NOURISH-HNC STUDY: A PROSPECTIVE COHORT STUDY OF NUTRITIONAL AND METABOLIC STATUS IN PATIENTS WITH HEAD AND NECK CANCER

E. Newton-Tanzer^1,*, D. Schulte², S. Wiegand¹

¹Department of Otorhinolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery,, University Medical Center Schleswig-Holstein (UKSH), Campus Kiel, ²Department of Internal Medicine I, Division of Endocrinology, Diabetology and Clinical Nutrition, University Medical Center Schleswig-Holstein, Kiel , Germany

Rationale: Malnutrition affects up to 70% of patients with head and neck cancer (HNC) and is associated with reduced treatment tolerance, increased complications, and poorer clinical outcomes (1–3). Tumor- and treatment-related impairments in oral intake, compounded by systemic inflammation and muscle loss, drive nutritional decline, yet structured longitudinal monitoring remains inadequately implemented despite guideline recommendations (4,5).

Methods: The NOURISH-HNC Study is a prospective observational cohort conducted at a tertiary center in Kiel, Germany, enrolling 190 patients with head and neck cancer. Approximately 120 patients undergoing active treatment are followed for 12 months across three modality-based cohorts (surgery, multimodal therapy, immunotherapy) with serial assessments of nutritional, functional, and biochemical status, while an additional 70 previously treated patients are evaluated cross-sectionally during routine follow-up.

Results: Recruitment began in March 2026.

Conclusion: The NOURISH-HNC Study aims to comprehensively characterize nutritional and metabolic vulnerabilities in head and neck cancer across modern treatment pathways. By integrating clinical, biochemical, and functional parameters, it seeks to inform structured nutritional monitoring and guide future interventional trials targeting personalized nutritional support.

References: 1. Wallmander C et al. Malnutrition in patients with advanced head and neck cancer. Clin Nutr ESPEN. 2025.

2. Hebuterne X et al. Prevalence of malnutrition and current use of nutrition support in patients with cancer. JPEN. 2014.

3. Cederholm T et al. GLIM criteria for the diagnosis of malnutrition. Clin Nutr. 2019.

4. McMillan DC. Systemic inflammation, nutritional status and survival in cancer. Curr Opin Clin Nutr Metab Care. 2009.

5. Arends J et al. ESPEN guidelines on nutrition in cancer patients. Clin Nutr. 2017.

Disclosure of Interest: None declared