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Advances in Radiotherapy
& Nuclear Medicine Integrating pet nutrition with radiotherapy and nuclear medicine

outcomes and patient care. By acknowledging the understood in veterinary oncology. Further research
interdependence of nutrition and other aspects of cancer into the immunomodulatory effects of specific
management, veterinarians can offer comprehensive, nutrients or dietary interventions could lead to novel
patient-centered treatment for companion animals with immunotherapeutic approaches and synergistic
cancer. Furthermore, ongoing research, education, and treatment strategies
collaboration will be essential for optimizing this synergy (v) Integration of nutritional counseling: Despite
and propelling the field of veterinary oncology to new recognizing the importance of nutrition in cancer
heights. care, the integration of nutritional counseling
into veterinary oncology practice varies. Research
1.3. Research gap exploring the barriers and facilitators of implementing

Despite significant progress in understanding how pet nutritional interventions, as well as the impact of
nutrition interacts with advanced medical interventions comprehensive nutritional counseling on treatment
such as radiotherapy and nuclear medicine in veterinary adherence, patient outcomes, and client satisfaction, is
oncology, several research gaps persist, presenting needed to optimize the delivery of nutritional support
opportunities for future investigation: in clinical settings.
(i) Optimal nutritional strategies: While the importance Addressing these research gaps will not only deepen
of nutrition in supporting pets undergoing cancer our understanding of the complex interplay between pet
treatment is recognized, further research is needed nutrition and cancer treatment but also pave the way
to identify optimal nutritional strategies for various for the development of evidence-based guidelines and
cancer types, treatment modalities, and individual personalized nutritional interventions that maximize
patient characteristics. This includes determining therapeutic efficacy and improve the quality of life for
the ideal diet composition, the timing of nutritional companion animals facing cancer.
interventions, and the role of specific nutrients or
supplements in influencing treatment outcomes 2. Nutritional considerations in
(ii) Nutritional biomarkers: Biomarkers play a crucial role radiotherapy for pets
in predicting treatment response, monitoring disease Radiotherapy is a cornerstone of cancer treatment in
progression, and guiding therapeutic decisions in veterinary medicine (Table 1) and holds significant promise
veterinary oncology. However, the identification of for targeting and eradicating malignant cells. However,
nutritional biomarkers that correlate with treatment the success of radiotherapy is not solely dependent on
outcomes and prognosis remains an area of exploration. delivering therapeutic radiation but also on the overall
Research focusing on the discovery and validation of health and nutritional status of the patient. 12,15 This section
nutritional biomarkers could enhance our ability to delves into the multifaceted nutritional considerations in
tailor nutritional interventions to individual patient radiotherapy for pets, highlighting the challenges posed by
needs and optimize treatment efficacy tumor metabolism and treatment-induced side effects, as
(iii) Long-term nutritional effects: While short-term well as the opportunities for tailored nutritional support to
studies have provided insights into the immediate optimize treatment outcomes. 8
impact of nutrition on treatment tolerance and side
effects, there is a paucity of research investigating Tumor growth exerts significant metabolic demands
the long-term effects of nutritional interventions on on the body, altering nutrient utilization and energy
cancer recurrence, survival outcomes, and quality of metabolism. Cancer cachexia, characterized by muscle
life in veterinary cancer patients. Longitudinal studies wasting, anorexia, and metabolic derangements, is a
assessing the sustained effects of nutritional support common manifestation in veterinary cancer patients and
beyond the acute treatment phase are warranted to can exacerbate the nutritional challenges associated with
elucidate the enduring benefits of optimized nutrition radiotherapy. 16,17 Understanding the metabolic dynamics of
in cancer management tumor growth is essential for devising targeted nutritional
(iv) Nutrition and immunomodulation: The intricate interventions that support healthy tissues while inhibiting
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relationship between nutrition and immune function tumor progression.
holds significant implications for cancer therapy, While radiotherapy effectively targets cancer cells, it
given the critical role of the immune system in tumor can also cause side effects that impact nutritional status
surveillance and treatment response. However, and quality of life in pets. Common side effects include
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the mechanistic links between nutrition, immune anorexia, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and mucositis, which
modulation, and treatment outcomes are not fully can compromise nutritional intake and lead to weight loss

Volume 2 Issue 3 (2024) 3 doi: 10.36922/arnm.3522