Nutritional Support in Cancer and Transplant Patients

Much has been learned, great developments have occurred, and so much has been written about cancer and transplantation in the last 2-3 decades. Yet, to the author's knowledge, no monograph or book has addressed nutrition support of cancer and transplant patients together. Experts from the around the world have addressed the nutrition support in cancer and transplant patients in this unique monograph. The book is divided in two parts: Part I deals with nutrition support in cancer patients, including the specific role of nutrition on immunity, cancer cachexia, and the role of different substrates. Part II addresses nutrition in transplant patients. The first two chapters deal with the immunologic role of nutrition and cancer cachexia. Chapter 3 elegantly and extensively reviews the nutritional implications; its biochemistry and the role of one of the most studied amino acids in clinical practiceÑglutamine. This is followed by two chapters of nutrition support of patients with head and neck cancer and nutrition support of patients with gastrointestinal cancer. Chapters 6 and 7 review the role of total parenteral nutrition on perioperative nutritional support and cell cycle kinetics. While the plasma amino acids profile in cancer patients and the role of L-methionine is addressed in great details in Chapters 8 and 9, the role of ornithine alpha-ketoglutarate administration on surgical, trauma and cancer-bearing patients is reviewed on Chapter 10. Part Two of this book starts with the review of nutritional support in small bowel transplantation. This Section elegantly describes the process of recovery of small bowel from the ischemia and preservation, weaning from parenteral nutrition support and establishment of normal diets. In addition monitoring techniques and the nutritional complications of surgical intervention is described. Chapter 12 on liver failure and liver transplant patients addresses hepatic encephalopathy and the role of certain amino acids, nutrition assessment techniques and metabolic changes following liver transplantation. Furthermore, it offers some practical advice on how to establish nutrition support routes in these very ill patients. Nutrition support in renal transplantation, including metabolic abnormalities in renal failure, are described on Chapter 13. This monograph ends with a Chapter on total parenteral nutrition in bone marrow transplant patients.