Body Composition as a Prognostic Factor of Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy Toxicity and Outcome in Patients with Locally Advanced Gastric Cancer

Background Chemotherapy is an effective treatment with good clinical response in patients with cancer. However, it can cause exacerbated toxicities in patients and consequently change the course of treatment. Some factors may interfere with this toxicity such as body composition, especially in gastrointestinal cancer. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of body composition, nutritional status, and functional capacity scale in predicting the occurrence of toxicities in gastrointestinal cancer patients during chemotherapy treatment. Methods This is a prospective study with gastrointestinal cancer patients at the beginning of chemotherapy treatment. Sarcopenia and muscle attenuation were assessed using the skeletal muscle index from computerized tomography by measuring cross‐sectional areas of the L3 tissue (cm 2 /m 2 ). Cachexia was graded according to involuntary weight loss associated with sarcopenia. Nutritional status was assessed by using anthropometric evaluation and Patient‐Generated Subjective Global Assessment. Functional capacity was evaluated by handgrip strength and Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) Performance Status scale. Haematological gastrointestinal and dose‐limiting toxicities (DLTs) were defined according to National Cancer Institute Common Toxicity Criteria. The associations among sarcopenia, cachexia, nutritional status, and functional capacity with DLT were assessed by univariate and multivariate Cox regression model. Results A total of 60 patients were evaluated (55% male, 60.9 ± 14.0 years) and followed up for a mean of 55 days. Most patients had normal weight (44.2%) and good ECOG Performance Status (≤1) at baseline (78%). During the chemotherapy period, the most prevalent toxicities were diarrhoea, nausea, and anorexia, but the presence of DLT was similar between cycles ( P > 0.05). Cachexia was associated with a higher toxicity manifested by diarrhoea ( P = 0.02), nausea ( P = 0.02), and anorexia ( P < 0.01 and P = 0.03 at Cycles 1 and 2, respectively). Sarcopenic and cachetic individuals experienced more toxicities and DLT during chemotherapy. The only factors associated with DLT in the multivariate Cox regression analyses including the presence of metastasis and the chemotherapy protocol were cachexia and the ECOG scale ( P < 0.001 for both). Conclusions Cachexia and ECOG score may identify patients with an increased risk for developing severe toxicity events during chemotherapy treatment for gastrointestinal cancer.

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Is cachexia associated with chemotherapy toxicities in gastrointestinal cancer patients? A prospective study

Rocha

Marcadenti

Medeiros

et al. 2019

“…A recent review showed that skeletal muscle RA, referred to as myosteatosis (SM‐RA), is highly prevalent in cancer patients . Sarcopenia and myosteatosis have been found to be independent prognostic factors of reduced survival and poor outcome after surgery or neoadjuvant treatments in various cancers including pancreatic, colorectal, gastric, esophageal, and ovarian cancers . This relationship was less evident in colorectal liver metastasis patients .…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Myosteatosis is associated with poor physical fitness in patients undergoing hepatopancreatobiliary surgery

West

Dijk

Gleadowe

et al. 2019

Background Body composition assessment, measured using single‐slice computed tomography (CT) image at L3 level, and aerobic physical fitness, objectively measured using cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET), are each independently used for perioperative risk assessment. Sarcopenia (i.e. low skeletal muscle mass), myosteatosis [i.e. low skeletal muscle radiation attenuation (SM‐RA)], and impaired objectively measured aerobic fitness (reduced oxygen uptake) have been associated with poor post‐operative outcomes and survival in various cancer types. However, the association between CT body composition and physical fitness has not been explored. In this study, we assessed the association of CT body composition with selected CPET variables in patients undergoing hepatobiliary and pancreatic surgery. Methods A pragmatic prospective cohort of 123 patients undergoing hepatobiliary and pancreatic surgery were recruited. All patients underwent preoperative CPET. Preoperative CT scans were analysed using a single‐slice CT image at L3 level to assess skeletal muscle mass, adipose tissue mass, and muscle radiation attenuation. Multivariate linear regression was used to test the association between CPET variables and body composition. Main outcomes were oxygen uptake at anaerobic threshold ( O 2 at AT), oxygen uptake at peak exercise ( O 2 peak), skeletal muscle mass, and SM‐RA. Results Of 123 patients recruited [77 men (63%), median age 66.9 ± 11.7, median body mass index 27.3 ± 5.2], 113 patients had good‐quality abdominal CT scans available and were included. Of the CT body composition variables, SM‐RA had the strongest correlation with O 2 peak ( r = 0.57, P < 0.001) and O 2 at AT ( r = 0.45, P < 0.001) while skeletal muscle mass was only weakly associated with O 2 peak ( r = 0.24, P < 0.010). In the multivariate analysis, only SM‐RA was associated with O 2 peak ( B = 0.25, 95% CI 0.15–0.34, P < 0.001, R 2 = 0.42) and O 2 at AT ( B = 0.13, 95% CI 0.06–0.18, P < 0.001, R 2 = 0.26). Conclusions There is a positive association between preoperative CT SM‐RA and preoperative physical fitness ( O 2 at AT and at peak). This study demonstrates that myosteatosis, and not sarcopenia, is associated with reduced aerobic physical fitness. Com...

“…Body composition features may also represent manifestations of the host response. Some of these features—such as sarcopenia, myosteatosis, and low adipose tissue mass—have been linked to drug toxicity and poor prognosis . In patients with CRLM, the effects of body composition on survival are inconsistent .…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Host phenotype is associated with reduced survival independent of tumour biology in patients with colorectal liver metastases

Dijk

Krill

Farshidfar³

et al. 2018

Self Cite

Background Most prognostic scoring systems for colorectal liver metastases (CRLMs) account for factors related to tumour biology. Little is known about the effects of the host phenotype to the tumour. Our objective was to delineate the relationship of systemic inflammation and body composition features [i.e. low skeletal muscle mass (sarcopenia) and low visceral adipose tissue (VAT)], two well‐described host phenotypes in cancer. Methods Clinical data and pre‐operative blood samples were collected from 99 patients who underwent resection of CRLM. Pre‐operative computed tomography scans were available for 97 patients; body composition was analysed at the L3 level, stratified for sex and age. Clinicopathological variables, serum C‐reactive protein (CRP), and various body composition variables were evaluated. Overall survival was evaluated as a function of these same variables in multivariate Cox regression analysis. Results Skeletal muscle was significantly correlated with VAT ( r = 0.46, P < 0.001). Of patients with sarcopenia, 35 (65%) also had low VAT. C‐reactive protein was elevated (≥5 mg/mL) in 42 patients (43.3%). Elevated CRP was more common in patients with sarcopenia (73.8% vs. 51.1%, P = 0.029). The most significant prognostic factors were the coincidence of elevated CRP and adverse body composition features (sarcopenia and/or low VAT; hazard ratio 4.3, 95% confidence interval 1.5–13.0, P = 0.008), as well as Fong clinical prognostic score (hazard ratio 2.9, 95% confidence interval 1.5–5.5, P = 0.002). Conclusions Body composition in patients with CRLM is not directly linked to the presence of systemic inflammation. However, when systemic inflammation coincides with sarcopenia and/or low VAT, prognosis is adversely affected, independent of the Fong clinical prognostic score.