Annals of surgical oncology
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Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical Trial
Effect of systemic insulin on protein kinetics in postoperative cancer patients.
Cancer cachexia is a significant cause of postoperative morbidity and mortality in patients with tumors of the upper gastrointestinal tract. Standard parenteral nutrition (TPN) has failed to alter this. The anabolic effect of insulin has been well documented, and its positive effect on protein economy in cancer patients has been recently demonstrated. This study examines the effect of high-dose insulin and parenteral nutrition on protein kinetics in postoperative cancer patients. ⋯ High-dose insulin in conjunction with hypercaloric parenteral nutrition causes improved skeletal muscle protein synthesis, skeletal muscle protein net balance, and whole-body protein net balance compared with standard TPN in postoperative cancer patients.