TY - JOUR
T1 - Does nutrition support stimulate tumor growth in humans?
AU - Bossola, Maurizio
AU - Pacelli, Fabio
AU - Rosa, Fausto
AU - Tortorelli, Antonio Pio
AU - Doglietto, Gb
PY - 2011
Y1 - 2011
N2 - Many studies have been conducted to ascertain if nutrition support (NS), either as parenteral nutrition (PN) or enteral nutrition (EN), stimulates tumor growth and causes cancer progression, but after almost 30 years, the question remains at least in part unresolved. In this study, previous studies were reviewed to evaluate the effect of NS on tumor growth, tumor proliferation, tumor apoptosis, and cancer-related survival in humans. MEDLINE and PubMed were searched using combinations of the following keywords: PN, EN, tumor growth, tumor proliferation, tumor apoptosis, arginine, ω-3 fatty acids, and glutamine. Unfortunately, the effect of nutrition support on tumor growth has been assessed only in terms of tumor proliferation, whereas the interferences on tumor apoptosis have never been determined. Overall, the results seem conflicting and inconclusive. Similarly, it remains unknown if PN or EN enriched with specific nutrients such as arginine, ω-3 fatty acids, and glutamine can affect tumor growth in humans. It is hoped that further studies will elucidate if NS with conventional or specific nutrients stimulates tumor proliferation, interferes with tumor apoptosis, and causes cancer progression.
AB - Many studies have been conducted to ascertain if nutrition support (NS), either as parenteral nutrition (PN) or enteral nutrition (EN), stimulates tumor growth and causes cancer progression, but after almost 30 years, the question remains at least in part unresolved. In this study, previous studies were reviewed to evaluate the effect of NS on tumor growth, tumor proliferation, tumor apoptosis, and cancer-related survival in humans. MEDLINE and PubMed were searched using combinations of the following keywords: PN, EN, tumor growth, tumor proliferation, tumor apoptosis, arginine, ω-3 fatty acids, and glutamine. Unfortunately, the effect of nutrition support on tumor growth has been assessed only in terms of tumor proliferation, whereas the interferences on tumor apoptosis have never been determined. Overall, the results seem conflicting and inconclusive. Similarly, it remains unknown if PN or EN enriched with specific nutrients such as arginine, ω-3 fatty acids, and glutamine can affect tumor growth in humans. It is hoped that further studies will elucidate if NS with conventional or specific nutrients stimulates tumor proliferation, interferes with tumor apoptosis, and causes cancer progression.
KW - Apoptosis
KW - Cell Proliferation
KW - Disease Progression
KW - Food
KW - Formulated
KW - Humans
KW - Neoplasms
KW - Nutritional Support
KW - Apoptosis
KW - Cell Proliferation
KW - Disease Progression
KW - Food
KW - Formulated
KW - Humans
KW - Neoplasms
KW - Nutritional Support
UR - https://publicatt.unicatt.it/handle/10807/4929
U2 - 10.1177/0884533611399771
DO - 10.1177/0884533611399771
M3 - Article
SN - 0884-5336
VL - 26
SP - 174
EP - 180
JO - Nutrition in Clinical Practice
JF - Nutrition in Clinical Practice
IS - 2
ER -