Special nutrition drink to reduce throat damage from lung cancer radiation

This trial is testing whether a special medical nutrition drink called Oral Impact® can reduce acute esophagitis—painful inflammation of the throat—that often develops during radiation therapy for lung cancer. About 121 people with lung cancer will be randomly assigned to either receive this nutrition drink or standard nutritional support during their radiation treatment. Researchers want to know if this medication can protect the throat and improve comfort during cancer care.

When people receive radiation therapy to treat lung cancer, the radiation can damage the esophagus (the tube that carries food to your stomach), causing pain, difficulty swallowing, and inflammation. There is a real need for safe ways to prevent or reduce this damage, and this treatment may help protect the esophagus during radiation.