Immunonutrition Strategies in Perioperative and Cancer Care: Inflammation Modulation and Complication Prevention

Postoperative complications, particularly those of an infectious and inflammatory nature, remain a critical factor impeding patient recovery and influencing long-term outcomes. The physiological stress induced by surgical trauma triggers a complex cascade, often leading to a dysregulated systemic inflammatory response and a state of immunosuppression, which forms the pathophysiological basis for many complications. Similarly, cancer treatments such as radiotherapy and chemotherapy can disrupt, suppress, or abnormally activate the immune system, leading to a spectrum of immune-related adverse events that compromise patient quality of life and treatment continuity.In recent years, perioperative nutritional support has evolved from a general supportive measure to a targeted therapeutic intervention. Immunonutrition, which involves the supplementation of specific nutrients such as omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids, arginine, and glutamine, has emerged as a focal point of clinical research. These immunonutrients are recognized for their potential to modulate inflammatory pathways and bolster immune function, thereby improving postoperative outcomes. The application of immunonutrition is expanding to mitigate the adverse effects of oncological treatments, including mucositis, dermatitis, pneumonitis, and colitis, which are often linked to underlying immune and inflammatory dysregulation.This Research Topic aims to collate the latest clinical evidence and mechanistic insights into the role of immunonutrition in managing inflammatory responses and complications associated with surgery, radiotherapy, and chemotherapy. We seek to provide a comprehensive platform for researchers and clinicians to share findings that can inform theoretical frameworks and guide practical strategies for optimizing patient prognosis.We invite submissions on topics including, but not limited to:● Mechanistic Studies: Elucidating the molecular and cellular mechanisms by which immunonutrients modulate postoperative systemic inflammatory responses and immune function.● Clinical Efficacy in Surgical Patients: Clinical trials and observational studies evaluating the impact of perioperative immunonutrition on reducing the incidence and severity of postoperative complications, such as surgical site infections, anastomotic leakage, and sepsis. ● Mitigating Cancer Treatment-Related Toxicities: Investigations into the role of immunonutrition in preventing or alleviating radiotherapy- and chemotherapy-induced adverse events, such as oral mucositis, radiation pneumonitis, colitis, and drug-induced liver injury.● Impact on Nutritional and Immune Status: Studies assessing the effects of immunonutrition on key biomarkers of nutritional status, inflammatory markers, and immune cell populations.● Long-Term Outcomes and Survival: Research exploring the association between immunonutritional support and long-term outcomes, including disease-free survival, overall survival, and quality of life in cancer patients.● Organ Function and Recovery: Studies on the effect of immunonutrition in promoting the recovery of organ function (e.g., gastrointestinal, pulmonary) following major surgery or oncological therapy. Topic editors: Feifei Mao, Chuanhai Zhang, Weiliang Hou Source: https://www.frontiersin.org/research-topics/76966/immunonutrition-strategies-in-perioperative-and-cancer-care-inflammation-modulation-and-complication-prevention