This randomized study examines how well zinc works in improving quality of life in patients with gastrointestinal cancer that cannot be removed by surgery who are receiving chemotherapy. Zinc may help to improve patient's quality of life by preventing zinc deficiency.
PRIMARY OBJECTIVE: I. Assess the effects on quality of life (QOL) when supplementing zinc in upper gastrointestinal (GI) cancer patients while they are receiving chemotherapy. SECONDARY OBJECTIVES: I. Correlate hypoalbuminemia with serum zinc deficiency. II. Correlate zinc deficiency with neutropenia. OUTLINE: Patients are randomized into 1 of 2 groups. GROUP I: Patients receive zinc orally (PO) thrice daily (TID) for months 1 and 2 only of the first 4 months on therapy. GROUP II: Patients receive zinc orally (PO) TID for months 3 and 4 only of the first 4 months on therapy.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
SUPPORTIVE_CARE
Masking
NONE
Enrollment
17
Given PO
Emory University Hospital/Winship Cancer Institute
Atlanta, Georgia, United States
Emory Saint Joseph's Hospital
Atlanta, Georgia, United States
Quality of life scores
Quality of life (QOL) will be evaluated through patient subjective responses to the QOL survey.
Time frame: Up to 4 months after study start
Serum zinc level
Zinc levels will be monitored monthly with blood tests. Low zinc will be defined as under 60 mcg.
Time frame: Up to 4 months after study start
Serum albumin level
Albumin levels will be monitored monthly with blood tests. Low albumin will be defined as under 3.5 gm/dl.
Time frame: Up to 4 months after study start
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