A comparison of dietary and lifestyle habits among stage III and metastatic colorectal cancer patients.

e14026 Background: Patients with colorectal cancer are often highly motivated to seek information about lifestyle and dietary changes which may optimize outcomes. Using data from two large National Cancer Institute-sponsored clinical trials, we compared the dietary and lifestyle practices of patients receiving chemotherapy for stage III colon cancer and metastatic colorectal cancer. METHODS: Self-administered questionnaires were completed by patients with stage III colon cancer enrolled in CALGB 89803 (n=1095) and by patients with metastatic colorectal cancer enrolled in CALGB 80405 (n=875), while they were undergoing chemotherapy. Descriptive statistical analyses were performed to evaluate body mass index (BMI), dietary patterns, physical activity, alcohol consumption, cigarette smoking, vitamin and supplement use, and aspirin use in each cohort. RESULTS: Median BMI was comparable for patients with stage III disease and patients with metastatic disease (27.3 vs. 26.5 kg/m(2)). Stage III patients reported a slightly higher total median MET-hours per week than patients with metastatic disease (4.6 vs. 3.4). 10% of patients with stage III disease and 9% of patients with metastatic disease reported ongoing cigarette use. 47% of patients with stage III disease and 43% of patients with metastatic disease reported abstinence from alcohol. Dietary patterns for both groups were comparable; however, patients with metastatic disease consumed fewer servings per week of many food groups. The vast majority of stage III and metastatic patients failed to meet recommended daily intake of vegetables, fruits, and dairy products. Stage III patients took an average of 1.5 vitamins daily, and patients with metastatic disese took an average of 1.1 vitamins daily. CONCLUSIONS: We observed remarkable similarities in dietary patterns and lifestyle behaviors between two large cohorts of stage III colon cancer patients and metastatic colorectal cancer patients actively receiving chemotherapy in the context of a clinical trial. Future research should aim to elucidate the effect of these behavioral factors on patient outcomes.

Duke Scholars

Author Donna Niedzwiecki Biostatistics & Bioinformatics, Division of Biostatistics