Effects of Radiation Therapy on the Body in Patients With Stage III Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer

OBJECTIVES:

Primary

* To determine energy and protein consumption on an average radiotherapy treatment day using the multiple pass method 24-hour analysis of food recall at baseline and treatment end.
* To compare energy and protein by mouth intake from baseline to treatment end.
* To measure and compare diet quality from baseline to radiotherapy treatment end by Healthy Eating Index (HEI) score.
* To determine lean body mass versus fat mass using a bioelectrical impedance analysis machine.
* To compare body fat to lean body mass percentage at baseline with that at radiotherapy treatment end.
* To correlate energy and protein consumption with lean body mass at baseline and treatment end.
* To determine the change in appetite throughout radiotherapy by comparing data obtained by interview at baseline and radiotherapy treatment end.
* To determine the change in performance level (Karnofsky percentage) associated with the radiotherapy through a series of questions asked at baseline and treatment end.

OUTLINE: Patients receive radiotherapy as planned for 7 weeks. Patients undergo an interview on treatment day 1 (before initiation of radiotherapy) and treatment day 35 (after completion of radiotherapy) regarding recent food consumption history and appetite. Patients' standing weight and height are measured on these days and their body composition, measured with a bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) device, are also taken. Patients' Karnofsky performance score are obtained from their medical record.

• physiologic testing (Other)
• questionnaire administration (Other)
• management of therapy complications (Procedure)
• radiation therapy (Radiation)

Primary outcomes

• Energy and protein consumption measured on an average radiotherapy treatment day by multiple pass method 24-hour analysis for food recall at baseline and treatment end
• Comparison of energy and protein by mouth intake from baseline to treatment end
• Comparison of diet quality as measured by Healthy Eating Index (HEI) score from baseline to treatment end
• Lean body mass versus fat mass using a bioelectrical impedance analysis machine
• Comparison of body fat to lean body mass percentage at baseline and at treatment end
• Correlation of energy and protein consumption with lean body mass at baseline and treatment end
• Change in appetite throughout radiotherapy determined by interview at baseline and end of treatment
• Change in performance level (Karnofsky percentage) associated with the radiotherapy procedure determined by questions asked at baseline and end of treatment

Sex: All, ages: 50 Years to 75 Years

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

* Diagnosed with stage III non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC)
* Plan to begin radiotherapy for NSCLC

  * Radiotherapy is the only planned therapy for this cancer
* No brain metastases

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

Inclusion criteria:

* Must be able to stand without assistance

Exclusion criteria:

* Unable to comply with study requirements
* Native language other than American English
* Pacemaker or implanted defibrillator

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

Exclusion criteria:

* Receiving chemotherapy in combination with radiotherapy
* Concurrent megace or steroids

• Jessica Stauffer, BS, Study chair, Ireland Cancer Center at University Hospitals Case Medical Center, Case Comprehensive Cancer Center

NIH grants: P30CA043703