The effects of enteral tube feeding on nutrition, survival, and quality of life outcomes in advanced upper gastrointestinal cancers: a systematic literature review

Purpose: Despite guidelines, enteral tube feeding is not routinely provided to advanced upper gastrointestinal (UGI) cancer patients who cannot consume adequate nutrition and who have an expected survival of at least 3 months. This review examined its effect on nutrition status, survival, and quality of life (QOL) in these patients. Methods: Five databases (CINAHL, Cochrane, Embase, Ovid, Web of Science) were searched for original research on nutrition, survival, and/or QOL outcomes in adults with inoperable UGI cancers receiving enteral tube feeding. Quality was assessed using the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics Quality Criteria Checklist: Primary Research, and a narrative synthesis was conducted. Results: Five studies were eligible for inclusion, most participants were male (n = 205), with low sample sizes across all studies (n = 16–131). Enteral tube feeding resulted in a similar proportion of participants with weight loss above or below 5% (baseline to 12 weeks) compared to a control group [p > 0.05] (1 study), and a significant increase in mean lean body mass [+1.3 (± 4.0) kg, p = 0.01] (1 study). There was variability in survival outcomes, statistical modelling, and comparators in five studies, with subsequently contradictory results. Only one study reported on QOL. Study quality was assessed as neutral (4 studies) or negative (1 study), reflecting methodological/analytical issues across the studies. Conclusions: This systematic literature review highlights a significant knowledge gap, with no high-quality randomised controlled trial-based evidence available on enteral nutrition efficacy, limiting its use in dietetic practice in this sub-population. Despite treatment developments prolonging survival, research investigating feeding and its impact on QOL remains inadequate. Further research is needed to promote change and influence practice, policy, and guidelines, alongside high-quality intervention studies with defined nutrition outcomes, regimens, and robust statistical analyses to determine the benefits of enteral tube feeding in this vulnerable population.