In order to establish whether the nutritional status may reflect the function of body organs and their systems in the presence of malignancy, the relationship between the histological type, stage, nutritional status of the patient and efficacy of the treatment was studied in 655 patients with primary lung cancer. The assessment of nutritional status included the evaluation of the body weight and of the serum protein and albumin concentrations. The evaluation of treatment efficacy included such aspects as the size of tumour regression and survival time.It was found that in most patients already in the initial stage of cancer development there was body weight deficit and low serum protein and albumin concentrations. The deficits increased with the development of malignancy. Also, it was established that in all histological types and stages of cancer, the efficacy of the treatment was related to the factors indicative of the nutritional status. Total regression of lesions and good tolerance of the treatment were observed exclusively in patients with high serum albumin concentrations and without deficits in the body weight.In patients with deficits in the body weight and serum protein and albumin concentrations, the treatment results were worse. The treatment was frequently poorly tolerated. A low serum albumin concentration and a marked body weight deficit were unfavaurable prognostic factors and survival in those patients was very short. Reduced protein levels were observed in the last days of life.

Keywords: lung cancer, nutrition