Serum transferrin and serum prealbumin as markers of response to nutritional support in patients with esophageal cancer.

80% of the patients with esophageal cancer. Nutritional support may prevent or reverse malnutrition, and is associated with better response to cancer therapy. Serum proteins provide indirect information about visceral proteins levels. Their reduction indicates less hepatic synthesis, which is usually assigned to intake deficits. In malnourished patients with nutritional support, an increase in protein concentration will serve to document an anabolic response. As serum transferrin has a half-life of 8 days, and serum prealbumin, of 2 to 3 days, these proteins are affected earlier by acute