Taste, Smell and Chemotherapy (TASTY)

Summary

Taste and smell abnormalities are common in cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy, with a prevalence ranging from 46% to 77% for taste changes, and 35% to 75% for smell changes. These chemosensory changes are distressing for patients and can lead to changes in appetite, food choice, and nutrient intake. These changes can result in malnutrition and weight loss. Possibly, also unhealthy eating patterns can be developed due to these taste and smell changes, given the high prevalence of obesity among survivors of certain cancer types. The primary objective is to investigate the nature, prevalence, and duration of taste and smell changes in patients with disseminated testicular cancer treated with cisplatin based chemotherapy.

Conditions

• Testicular Cancer

Interventions

PROCEDURE

Dexa scan

the DEXA scan to measure bone and fat will be performed one time in the healthy controls and the patients participating in the cross sectional part of the study. The patients in the longitudinal part of the study will have a DEXA scan at baseline, 1 month after the end of chemotherapy and after 1 year.

PROCEDURE

audiogram

the audiogram will be performed one time in the healthy controls and the patients participating in the cross sectional part of the study. The patients in the longitudinal part of the study will have an audiogram at baseline, 1 month after the end of chemotherapy and after 1 year.

PROCEDURE

measurement of heart rate variability and baroreflex sensitivity

the measurements (continuous assessment of heart rate and blood pressure using an non-invasive Finapress device) during 30 minutes will be performed one time in the healthy controls and the patients participating in the cross sectional part of the study. The patients in the longitudinal part of the study will have those measurements taken at baseline, 1 month after the end of chemotherapy and after 1 year.

PROCEDURE

Glucose tolerance assessment

Glucose tolerance will be assessed by drinking glucose water and measuring glucose at baseline and 2 hours later. It will be performed one time in the healthy controls and the patients participating in the cross sectional part of the study. The patients in the longitudinal part of the study will have an assessment at baseline, 1 month after the end of chemotherapy and after 1 year.

DIETARY_SUPPLEMENT

oral nutrition supplements

a set of 10 Oral Nutrition Supplements (ONS) will be offered combined with a questionnaire to measure appreciation and preference for these food products. All these tests and questionnaires will be performed longitudinally (before the first chemotherapy, on day 7 of the first course, before the second course, on day 7 of the second course, 1 month after start of the last course, 7 months after the start of chemotherapy, and 1 year after the start of chemotherapy) and cross-sectional (1, 3, 5 and 7 years after chemotherapy).

BEHAVIORAL

Two day food records

Two day food records will be used to investigate the actual dietary intake before the first and second course, during (on day 5 and 6) first and second course, 1 month after start of the last course, 7 months after the start of chemotherapy, and 1 year after the start of chemotherapy.

BEHAVIORAL

Food Frequency Questionnaire

A Food Frequency Questionnaire (FFQ) will be used to investigate the usual dietary intake before the start of the first course, before and after the second course, 1 month after start of the last course, seven months after the start of chemotherapy, and 1 year after the start of chemotherapy (longitudinal), and 1, 3, 5 and 7 years after chemotherapy (cross-sectional).

Sponsors & Collaborators

• University Medical Center Groningen

  lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

• A KL Reyners, MD, PhD · University Medical Center Groningen

Study Design

Allocation

NON_RANDOMIZED

Purpose

SUPPORTIVE_CARE

Masking

NONE

Model

SINGLE_GROUP

Eligibility

Min Age

18 Years

Max Age

50 Years

Sex

MALE

Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2012-06-30

Primary Completion

2016-01-31

Completion

2016-01-31

Countries

• Netherlands

Study Locations