The role of nutritional assessment and intervention in lung cancer radiotherapy: Current status and advances

Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide, and malnutrition during its treatment significantly impacts therapeutic outcomes and patients' quality of life. Radiotherapy, as one of the primary treatment modalities for lung cancer, often leads to a range of side effects such as nausea, esophagitis, and taste alterations, which can result in inadequate nutrient intake and sarcopenia. These conditions exacerbate treatment toxicity and increase the risk of poor prognosis. This article systematically reviews the methods of nutritional assessment, intervention strategies, and their effects on treatment toxicity and survival outcomes in lung cancer patients undergoing radiotherapy. By synthesizing existing evidence, this systematic review aims to provide a theoretical foundation for optimizing nutritional management in clinical practice, thereby improving survival outcomes and quality of life for lung cancer patients.