The effects of prehabilitation on body composition in patients undergoing multimodal therapy for esophageal cancer

Effectiveness of prehabilitation during neoadjuvant therapy for patients with esophageal or gastroesophageal junction cancer: a systematic review

Progression of the physical weakness during neoadjuvant therapy (NAT) in patients with esophageal or gastroesophageal junction cancer is a serious problem; however, prehabilitation during NAT has the potential to overcome the unmet need. Nevertheless, systematic reviews on this topic have not been summarized. Therefore, this systematic review aimed to determine prehabilitation's effectiveness, acceptability, and safety during NAT for patients with esophageal or gastroesophageal junction cancer. An electronic search was performed in the MEDLINE, Web of Science, CENTRAL, CINAHL, and PEDro databases. A meta-analysis was conducted to assess the effectiveness of prehabilitation during NAT, along with a descriptive analysis of acceptance and safety. This study analyzed data from three randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and nine non-RCTs involving 664 patients. The meta-analysis of two RCTs demonstrated that prehabilitation during NAT may be more effective than usual care in enhancing tolerance to NAT and grip strength; moreover, one RCT and three non-RCTs revealed that prehabilitation may reduce the risk of postoperative complications. The adherence rates for exercise programs in two RCTs and seven non-RCTs were 55-76%. Additionally, two studies reported a 76% adherence rate for multimodal prehabilitation programs, including exercise, dietary, and psychological care. Six studies reported no serious prehabilitation-related adverse events during NAT. Prehabilitation during NAT may be a safe and beneficial intervention strategy for patients with esophageal or gastroesophageal junction cancer. However, the investigation of strategies to enhance adherence is essential. Furthermore, additional high-quality RCTs are needed to examine the effect of prehabilitation during NAT.

Prevention of Sarcopenia and Maintenance of Exercise Tolerance by Individualized Prehabilitation in a Patient With Esophageal Cancer During Preoperative Adjuvant Therapy: A Case Report

Preoperative adjuvant therapy for esophageal cancer increases sarcopenia and decreases exercise tolerance, which are risk factors for postoperative pneumonia. Preoperative rehabilitation for patients undergoing esophagectomy effectively reduces the incidence of postoperative pneumonia. Therefore, the risk factors should be optimized by preoperative rehabilitation. Our patient had several risk factors for postoperative pneumonia, including low exercise tolerance, presarcopenia, and low respiratory muscle strength. However, because of the patient's advanced age, multiple comorbidities, and poor nutritional status, we struggled to determine the appropriate exercise intensity. Furthermore, there was a concern that chemotherapy-related adverse events could prevent adequate exercise from being performed. However, with individualized measures such as adjustable exercise intensity settings based on treatment status and nutritional management through multidisciplinary collaboration, it was possible to prevent sarcopenia and maintain exercise tolerance during preoperative adjuvant therapy. Individualized support in preoperative rehabilitation was suggested to contribute to the prevention of sarcopenia and maintenance of exercise tolerance during preoperative adjuvant therapy.

Sarcopenic obesity predicts short- and long-term outcomes after neoadjuvant chemotherapy and surgery for gastric cancer

BACKGROUND

Sarcopenic obesity (SO) affects outcomes in various malignancies. However, its clinical significance in patients undergoing neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) for locally advanced gastric cancer (LAGC) remains unclear. This study investigated the impact of pre- and post-NAC SO on postoperative morbidity and survival.

METHODS

Data from 207 patients with LAGC, who underwent NAC followed by radical gastrectomy between January 2010 and October 2019, were reviewed. Skeletal muscle mass and visceral fat area were measured pre- and post-NAC using computed tomography to define sarcopenia and obesity, the coexistence of which was defined as SO.

RESULTS

Among the patients, 52 (25.1%) and 38 (18.4%) developed SO before and after NAC, respectively. Both pre- (34.6%) and post- (47.4%) NAC SO were associated with the highest postoperative morbidity rates; however, only post-NAC SO was an independent risk factor for postoperative morbidity [hazard ratio (HR) = 9.550, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 2.818-32.369; P < .001]. Pre-NAC SO was independently associated with poorer 3-year overall [46.2% vs. 61.3%; HR = 1.258 (95% CI = 1.023-1.547); P = .049] and recurrence-free [39.3% vs. 55.4%; HR 1.285 (95% CI 1.045-1.579); P = .017] survival.

CONCLUSIONS

Pre-NAC SO was an independent prognostic factor in patients with LAGC undergoing NAC; post-NAC SO independently predicted postoperative morbidity.

Sarcopenia impacts perioperative and survival outcomes after esophagectomy for cancer: a multicenter study

BACKGROUND

The impact of sarcopenia on outcomes after esophagectomy is controversial. Most data are currently derived from Asian populations. This study aimed to correlate sarcopenia to short-term perioperative complication rates and long-term survival and recurrence outcomes.

METHODS

A retrospective analysis was performed of patients undergoing esophagectomy for cancer from 3 tertiary referral centers in Australia. Sarcopenia was defined using cutoffs for skeletal muscle index (SMI), assessed on preoperative computed tomography images. Outcomes measured included complications, overall survival (OS), and disease-free survival (DFS).

RESULTS

Of 462 patients (78.4% male; median age, 67 years), sarcopenia was evident in 276 (59.7%). Patients with sarcopenia had a higher rate of major (Clavien-Dindo ≥ 3b) complications (27.9% vs 14.5%; P < .001), including higher rates of postoperative cardiac arrythmia (16.3% vs 9.7%; P = .042), pneumonia requiring antibiotics (14.5% vs 9.1%; P = .008), and 30-day mortality (5.1% vs 0%; P = .002). In the sarcopenic group, the median OS was lower (37 months [95% CI, 27.1-46.9] vs 114 months [95% CI, 75.8-152.2]; P < .001), as was the median DFS (27 months [95% CI, 18.9-35.1] vs 77 months [95% CI, 36.4-117.6]; P < .001). Sarcopenia was an independent risk factor for lower survival on multivariate analysis (hazard ratio, 1.688; 95% CI, 1.223-2.329; P = .001).

CONCLUSION

Patients with preoperative sarcopenia based on analysis of SMI are at a higher risk of major complications and have inferior survival and oncologic outcomes after esophagectomy for esophageal cancer.

Thoracic skeletal muscle mass predicts mortality in patients with surgery for pleural empyema: A case control study

BACKGROUND

This study investigated the role of the thoracic skeletal muscle mass as a marker of sarcopenia on postoperative mortality in pleural empyema.

METHODS

All consecutive patients (n = 103) undergoing surgery for pleural empyema in a single tertiary referral center between January 2020 and December 2022 were eligible for this study. Thoracic skeletal muscle mass index (TSMI) was determined from preoperative computed tomography scans. The impact of TSMI and other potential risk factors on postoperative in-hospital mortality was retrospectively analyzed.

RESULTS

A total of 97 patients were included in this study. The in-hospital mortality rate was 13.4%. In univariable analysis, low values for preoperative TSMI (p = 0.020), low preoperative levels of thrombocytes (p = 0.027) and total serum protein (p = 0.046) and higher preoperative American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) category (p = 0.007) were statistically significant risk factors for mortality. In multivariable analysis, only TSMI (p = 0.038, OR 0.933, 95% CI: 0.875-0.996) and low thrombocytes (p = 0.031, OR 0.944, 95% CI: 0.988-0.999) remained independent prognostic factors for mortality.

CONCLUSIONS

TSMI was a significant prognostic risk factor for postoperative mortality in patients with pleural empyema. TSMI may be suitable for risk stratification in this disease with high morbidity and mortality, which may have further implications for the selection of the best treatment strategy.

Evaluation of nutrition components within prehabilitation programs in gastrointestinal cancers: Is prehab worth the hype?

Nutrition impact symptoms and unintended weight loss are prevalent in patients with gastrointestinal cancers, especially during the perioperative period or while prescribed anticancer treatments. Because patients may experience loss of lean body mass and malnutrition, aggressive nutrition intervention prior to surgery should be considered. Cancer prehabilitation is a process spanning the care continuum from diagnosis to the time of surgery encompassing nutrition support, psychological and physical assessment, and targeted interventions. Thirteen studies published between 2013 and 2023 were included in this review and evaluated prehabilitation programs' impact on postoperative outcomes in patients with gastrointestinal cancers. Literature continues to emerge supporting the integration of nutrition into a prehabilitation program because of its potential to contribute to improved clinical outcomes, quality of life, and cost-effectiveness, but considerable variation exists with respect to the specific recommendations provided by current prehabilitation programs.

Significance of Comprehensive Analysis of Preoperative Sarcopenia Based on Muscle Mass, Muscle Strength, and Physical Function for the Prognosis of Patients with Esophageal Cancer

BACKGROUND

The assessment of muscle mass loss, muscle strength, and physical function has been recommended in diagnosing sarcopenia. However, only muscle mass has been assessed in previous studies. Therefore, this study investigated the effect of comprehensively diagnosed preoperative sarcopenia on the prognosis of patients with esophageal cancer.

METHODS

The study analyzed 115 patients with esophageal cancer (age ≥ 65 years) who underwent curative esophagectomy. Preoperative sarcopenia was analyzed using the skeletal mass index (SMI), handgrip strength, and gait speed based on the Asian Working Group for Sarcopenia 2019 criteria. Clinicopathologic factors, incidence of postoperative complications, and overall survival (OS) were compared between the sarcopenia and non-sarcopenia groups. The significance of the three individual parameters also was evaluated.

RESULTS

The evaluation identified 47 (40.9%) patients with low SMI, 31 (27.0%) patients with low handgrip strength, and 6 (5.2%) patients with slow gait speed. Sarcopenia was diagnosed in 23 patients (20%) and associated with older age and advanced pT stage. The incidence of postoperative complications did not differ significantly between the two groups. Among the three parameters, only slow gait speed was associated with Clavien-Dindo grade 2 or greater complications. The sarcopenia group showed significantly worse OS than the non-sarcopenia group. Those with low handgrip strength tended to have worse OS, and those with slow gait speed had significantly worse OS than their counterparts.

CONCLUSIONS

Preoperative sarcopenia diagnosed using skeletal muscle mass, muscle strength, and physical function may have an impact on the survival of patients with esophageal cancer.

Correlation between sarcopenia and esophageal cancer: a narrative review

BACKGROUND

In recent years, the research on the relationship between sarcopenia before and after the treatment of esophageal cancer, as well as its impact on prognosis of esophageal cancer, has increased rapidly, which has aroused people's attention to the disease of patients with esophageal cancer complicated with sarcopenia. This review examines the prevalence of sarcopenia in patients with esophageal cancer, as well as the relationship between sarcopenia (before and after surgery or chemotherapy) and prognosis in patients with esophageal cancer. Moreover, we summarized the potential pathogenesis of sarcopenia and pharmacologic and non-pharmacologic therapies.

METHODS

A narrative review was performed in PubMed and Web of Science using the keywords ("esophageal cancer" or "esophageal neoplasm" or "neoplasm, esophageal" or "esophagus neoplasm" or "esophagus neoplasms" or "neoplasm, esophagus" or "neoplasms, esophagus" or "neoplasms, esophageal" or "cancer of esophagus" or "cancer of the esophagus" or "esophagus cancer" or "cancer, esophagus" or "cancers, esophagus" or "esophagus cancers" or "esophageal cancer" or "cancer, esophageal" or "cancers, esophageal" or "esophageal cancers") and ("sarcopenia" or "muscular atrophy" or "aging" or "senescence" or "biological aging" or "aging, biological" or "atrophies, muscular" or "atrophy, muscular" or "muscular atrophies" or "atrophy, muscle" or "atrophies, muscle" or "muscle atrophies"). Studies reporting relationship between sarcopenia and esophageal cancer were analyzed.

RESULTS

The results of the review suggest that the average prevalence of sarcopenia in esophageal cancer was 46.3% ± 19.6% ranging from 14.4 to 81% and sarcopenia can be an important predictor of poor prognosis in patients with esophageal cancer. Patients with esophageal cancer can suffer from sarcopenia due to their nutritional deficiencies, reduced physical activity, chemotherapy, and the effects of certain inflammatory factors and pathways. When classic diagnostic values for sarcopenia such as skeletal muscle index (SMI) are not available clinically, it is also feasible to predict esophageal cancer prognosis using simpler metrics, such as calf circumference (CC), five-count sit-up test (5-CST), and six-minute walk distance (6MWD).

CONCLUSIONS

Identifying the potential mechanism of sarcopenia in patients with esophageal cancer and implementing appropriate interventions may hold the key to improving the prognosis of these patients.

Effects of unimodal or multimodal prehabilitation on patients undergoing surgery for esophagogastric cancer: a systematic review and meta-analysis

PURPOSE

To evaluate the effects of unimodal or multimodal prehabilitation on patients undergoing surgery for esophagogastric cancer.

METHODS

We conducted a systematic search of the PubMed, Embase, CINAHL, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library (CENTRAL) databases from database inception to May 5, 2023, for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and cohort studies that investigated prehabilitation in the context of esophagogastric cancer. A random-effects model was used for meta-analysis.

RESULTS

We identified 2,994 records and eventually included 12 studies (6 RCTs and 6 cohort studies) with a total of 910 patients. According to random-effects pooled estimates, prehabilitation reduced the incidence of all complications (RR = 0.79, 95% CI: 0.66 to 0.93, P = 0.006), pulmonary complications (RR = 0.61, 95% CI: 0.47 to 0.79, P = 0.0002), and severe complications (RR = 0.63, 95% CI: 0.47 to 0.84, P = 0.002), and shortened the length of stay (MD = -1.92, 95% CI: -3.11 to -0.73, P = 0.002) compared to usual care. However, there were no statistically significant differences in 30-day readmission rates or in-hospital mortality. Subgroup analysis showed that multimodal prehabilitation was effective in reducing the risk of all complications and severe complications, while unimodal prehabilitation was not.

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings suggested that prehabilitation may be beneficial in reducing postoperative complications and length of stay. We recommend preoperative prehabilitation to improve postoperative outcomes and hasten recovery following esophagogastric cancer surgery, and multimodal prehabilitation seems to be more advantageous in reducing complications. However, further studies are needed to confirm these results.

Changes in Sarcopenia Status Predict Survival Among Patients with Resectable Esophageal Cancer

BACKGROUND

Sarcopenia is a predictor of survival in patients with esophageal cancer. The objective of this research was to obtain insight into how changes in sarcopenia influence survival in resectable esophageal cancer.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

A retrospective cohort of patients with esophageal cancer undergoing tri-modality therapy was selected. Body composition parameters from the staging, post-neoadjuvant, and 1-year surveillance computed tomography (CT) scans were calculated. Overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS) were evaluated using the Kaplan-Meier method and log-rank test, as well as multivariable Cox-proportional hazards models.

RESULTS

Of 141 patients, 118 had images at all three timepoints. The median DFS and OS were 33.2 [95% confidence interval (CI) 19.1-73.7] and 34.5 (95% CI 23.1-57.6) months, respectively. Sarcopenia classified by the staging CT was present in 20 (17.0%) patients. This changed to 45 (38.1%) patients by the post-neoadjuvant scan, and 44 (37.3%) by the surveillance scan. In multivariable analysis, sarcopenia at the post-neoadjuvant scan was significantly associated with OS [hazards ratio (HR) 2.65, 95% CI 1.59-4.40; p < 0.001] and DFS (HR 1.80, 95% CI 1.03-3.13; p = 0.038). The net change in skeletal muscle index was associated with OS (HR 0.93, 95% CI 0.90-0.97; p < 0.001) and DFS (HR 0.94, 95% CI 0.91-0.98; p = 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

Patients who develop sarcopenia as a consequence of skeletal muscle wasting during neoadjuvant therapy are at risk for worse DFS and OS. Patients who have a net loss of muscle over time may be at high risk for early disease recurrence.