[Use of parenteral nutritional support in patients with gastric cancer: the relationship of protein turn over, immunocompetence and tumor cell kinetics].

In order to elucidate the effect of preoperative parenteral nutritional support (PNS) on protein metabolism, host immunocompetence and tumor cell kinetics, two prospective trials were made in patients with gastric cancer. All the patients were given PNS for 7 days in addition to oral intake. The positive nitrogen balance and increase of protein anabolic rate was greater in PNS groups than in control group. There was a moderate increase in NKC after PNS. The rise in CD4+ was significant (P < 0.05). The percentage of G0/G1 cells fell after PNS (P < 0.01), while that of the whole proliferative phase (S + G2 + M) rose (P < 0.05). These changes were not noted in normal gastric mucosa. In conclusion, despite of stimulating tumor cell proliferation, PNS helps to promote whole body protein synthesis and to amelio-rate the immunocompetence of advanced gastric cancer patients before operation.