Tight Caloric Control in the Cachectic Oncologic Patient (TiCaCONCO or CoCooN)

Cancer is a worldwide spread disease with high prevalence and incidence, often of poor prognosis because it is typically diagnosed in an advanced stage. Another reason for this prognosis is the presence of malnutrition, on the one hand because of a diminished intake (due to anorexia), and on the other hand because of tumor-induced hypercatabolism. The result is a pathological state of the body called \"cachexia\", generally defined as a weight loss \> 5% during the last 6 months before diagnosis. It had already been demonstrated that correct nutrition in such patients can limit morbidity, while promoting progression-free survival as well as well-being. The pilot study, previously performed by the investigators, was the first to suggest that Nutrition Therapy, based on the ESPEN guidelines and resting energy expenditure measured by indirect calorimetry, can promote overall survival. The aim of this project is to validate these preliminary results in a larger RCT (randomized controlled double-blind trial), to promote Nutrition Therapy as a novel modality in its own right in the treatment of cancer, rather than being merely supportive.