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The PLCRC-PROTECT-Plus study: body composition and treatment toxicities in patients with colon cancer treated with adjuvant chemotherapy

Every year, approximately 9,000 people in the Netherlands are diagnosed with colon cancer. For patients with a stage II or III tumor, treatment may include surgery, possibly followed by adjuvant chemotherapy. As a result of the disease and its treatment, a change in body composition may occur. It is believed that maintaining muscle mass after diagnosis can contribute to better treatment outcomes.

Aim

With this research project we aim to investigate whether and how body composition changes during adjuvant chemotherapy, and study its relation with treatment-related toxicities.

Design

The PROTECT-Plus study investigates the relationship between body composition after diagnosis and the amount, extent and duration of side effects in patients receiving adjuvant chemotherapy after surgery. For this purpose, in addition to measuring dietary intake and the regular PLCRC quality of life questionnaires, additional measurements will be done in 150 patients. In order to measure the body composition, two additional CT scans of the abdomen will be performed, and extra blood will be collected during treatment to study certain nutrients and nutritional status during treatment.

PROTECT-Plus is initiated by the UMC Utrecht, in collaboration with Utrecht University and Nutricia Research. This study is ongoing at the UMC Utrecht, Diakonessenhuis Utrecht and Flevo Hospital Almere.

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