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Practice Guideline
. 2022 Apr;30(4):2983-2992.
doi: 10.1007/s00520-021-06613-y. Epub 2021 Oct 19.

Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer (MASCC) expert opinion/guidance on the use of clinically assisted nutrition in patients with advanced cancer

Bryony Alderman  1 , Lindsey Allan  1 , Koji Amano  2 , Carole Bouleuc  3 , Mellar Davis  4 , Stephanie Lister-Flynn  5 , Sandip Mukhopadhyay  6 , Andrew Davies  7   8   9
Affiliations
Practice Guideline

Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer (MASCC) expert opinion/guidance on the use of clinically assisted nutrition in patients with advanced cancer

Bryony Alderman et al. Support Care Cancer. 2022 Apr.

Abstract

Purpose: The pro vision of clinically assisted nutrition (CAN) in patients with advanced cancer is controversial, and there is a paucity of specific guidance, and so a diversity in clinical practice. Consequently, the Palliative Care Study Group of the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer (MASCC) formed a Subgroup to develop evidence-based guidance on the use CAN in patients with advanced cancer.

Methods: This guidance was developed in accordance with the MASCC Guidelines Policy. A search strategy for Medline was developed, and the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials were explored for relevant reviews/trials respectively. The outcomes of the review were categorised by the level of evidence, and a "category of guideline" based on the level of evidence (i.e. "recommendation", "suggestion", or "no guideline possible").

Results: The Subgroup produced 11 suggestions, and 1 recommendation (due to the paucity of evidence). These outcomes relate to assessment of patients, indications for CAN, contraindications for CAN, procedures for initiating CAN, and re-assessment of patients.

Conclusions: This guidance provides a framework for the use of CAN in advanced cancer, although every patient needs individualised management.

Keywords: Advanced cancer; Clinically assisted nutrition; Neoplasms; Palliative care; Practice guideline.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no competing interests.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Decision algorithm for CAN in patients with advanced cancer.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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