Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40952517›Full record

Observational studySupportive care in cancer : official journal of the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer2025

Nasogastric tube nutrition support enhances chemoradiotherapy compliance and alleviates mucosal reactions in nasopharyngeal carcinoma: a 856-case retrospective cohort study.

Xiang-Ju Zeng, Yi-Fang Tang, Jia-Lai Zhan, Yun-Fei Li, Fang-Wen Zou

Abstract readObservational Study
PubMed Publisher
In one paragraph

Observational study in Supportive care in cancer : official journal of the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 3 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
3citing papers in PubMed, 1 pooled it
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

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Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

3 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.

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4 · The record

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PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

5 authors.

Xiang-Ju ZengDepartment of Outpatient, The Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, 410000, P.R. China.
Yi-Fang TangDepartment of Oncology, The Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, 410000, P.R. China.
Jia-Lai ZhanDepartment of Anesthesiology, The Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, 410000, P.R. China.
Yun-Fei LiDepartment of Anesthesiology, The Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, 410000, P.R. China.
Fang-Wen ZouDepartment of Anesthesiology, The Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, 410000, P.R. China. zoufangwen@csu.edu.cn.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundDysphagia-induced malnutrition is a prevalent complication and critical determinant affecting the progression and prognosis of nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) patients undergoing radiotherapy. This study retrospectively evaluates the efficacy of nasogastric tube nutrition support (NTNS) during NPC radiotherapy.

methodsA retrospective observational cohort study was conducted on NPC patients who received radical chemoradiotherapy between January 2018 and December 2023, with complete medical records. Clinical and survival data were collected and analyzed to compare outcomes between the NTNS group and parenteral nutrition (PN) group.

resultsA total of 856 patients were enrolled (265 in NTNS group, 591 in PN group). Compared with the PN group, the NTNS group exhibited significantly lower rates of weight loss (2.23% vs. 4.82%, P = 0.027), PG-SGA scores (7.36 ± 0.58 vs. 8.65 ± 0.65, P = 0.021), severe malnutrition, grade 2+ oropharyngeal mucosal reactions (77.4% vs. 94.1%, P = 0.032), and infections (5.7% vs. 14.1%, P = 0.028). Additionally, the NTNS group showed higher levels of lymphocytes (P = 0.029), albumin (P = 0.035), and triceps skinfold thickness (P = 0.038). The incidence of nutritional risk was significantly lower in the NTNS group after radiotherapy (P < 0.05). The NTNS group demonstrated a higher concurrent chemotherapy completion rate (92.9% vs. 72.0%, P < 0.05), shorter radiotherapy duration, and better post-radiotherapy quality of life as assessed by EORTC QLQ-C30 (P < 0.05). No significant difference was observed in short-term therapeutic efficacy between the groups.

conclusionNTNS during NPC radiotherapy is associated with reduced weight loss and severe malnutrition, delayed nutritional risk, alleviated radiotherapy-induced reactions, higher chemotherapy compliance, shortened treatment duration, and improved quality of life. These findings support integrating NTNS into standardized nutritional management for NPC patients undergoing radiotherapy.

Indexed as

ChemoradiotherapyEnteral NutritionIntubation, GastrointestinalNasopharyngeal CarcinomaNasopharyngeal NeoplasmsAdultAgedDeglutition DisordersFemaleHumansMaleMalnutritionMiddle AgedPatient ComplianceQuality of LifeRetrospective StudiesNasogastric tube nutrition supportNasopharyngeal carcinomaQuality of lifeRadiotherapy

Identifiers

PMID40952517

What OpenQuestion holds

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.