Prognostic impact of body mass index stratified by smoking status in patients with esophageal adenocarcinoma

Sex differences in survival following surgery for esophageal cancer: A systematic review and meta-analysis

The impact of sex on the prognosis of patients with esophageal cancer remains unclear. Evidence supports that sex- based disparities in esophageal cancer survival could be attributed to sex- specific risk exposures, such as age at diagnosis, race, socioeconomic status, smoking, drinking, and histological type. The aim of our study is to investigate the role of sex disparities in survival of patients who underwent surgery for esophageal cancer. A systematic review and meta-analysis of the existing literature in PubMed, EMBASE, and CENTRAL from December 1966 to February 2023, was held. Studies that reported sex-related differences in survival outcomes of patients who underwent esophagectomy for esophageal cancer were identified. A total of 314 studies were included in the quantitative analysis. Statistically significant results derived from 1-year and 2-year overall survival pooled analysis with Relative Risk (RR) 0.93 (95% Confidence Interval (CI): 0.90-0.97, I2 = 52.00) and 0.90 (95% CI: 0.85-0.95, I2 = 0.00), respectively (RR < 1 = favorable for men). In the postoperative complications analysis, statistically significant results concerned anastomotic leak and heart complications, RR: 1.08 (95% CI: 1.01-1.16) and 0.62 (95% CI: 0.52-0.75), respectively. Subgroup analysis was performed among studies with <200 and > 200 patients, histology types, study continent and publication year. Overall, sex tends to be an independent prognostic factor for esophageal carcinoma. However, unanimous results seem rather obscure when multivariable analysis and subgroup analysis occurred. More prospective studies and gender-specific protocols should be conducted to better understand the modifying role of sex in esophageal cancer prognosis.

Impact of Body Mass Index on outcomes in hospitalized heart failure patients with reduced versus preserved ejection fraction: a 1,699,494-individual analysis from the United States National Inpatient Sample

BACKGROUND

Obesity's effect on outcomes in heart failure (HF) patients with reduced versus maintained ejection fraction (HFrEF and HFpEF) remains debatable. We evaluated hospital outcomes and healthcare expenditures in these patients based on their Body Mass Index (BMI).

METHODS

Using the USA National Inpatient Sample (NIS) database, patients >18 years admitted with a primary diagnosis of HFrEF or HFpEF between January 1, 2004, and August 31, 2015, were studied. Patients were stratified into the following BMI categories: underweight, normal weight, overweight, obese, and morbidly obese. Adjusted multivariable analyses using Poisson regression models were used to study the association between BMI and hospital outcomes and healthcare costs.

RESULTS

Overall, 1,699,494 patients were included. After full adjustment, obesity (OR=1.84; 95% CI: 1.22-2.76) and morbid obesity (OR=1.81; 95% CI: 1.22-2.70) increased the odds of in-hospital mortality compared with normal weight. When stratified per ejection fraction, underweight patients had higher odds of in-hospital mortality in HFrEF (OR=1.46; 95% CI: 1.06-2.01). Obese and morbidly obese patients had higher odds of in-hospital mortality in both HFrEF and HFpEF. Furthermore, obese and morbidly obese patients had a longer mean adjusted length of stay and higher health care expenses.

CONCLUSIONS

Being underweight is associated with increased risk of in-hospital mortality in HFrEF patients. Obesity and morbid obesity increase the risk of in-hospital mortality and higher healthcare costs in both HFrEF and HFpEF. These findings have clinical significance for HF patients, and further research is needed to investigate the ideal weight for HF patients.

Impact of obesity and white adipose tissue inflammation on the omental microenvironment in endometrial cancer

BACKGROUND

A complex relationship between adipose tissue and malignancy, involving an inflammatory response, has been reported. The goal of this work was to assess the prevalence of white adipose tissue (WAT) inflammation in patients with endometrial cancer (EC), and the association with circulating inflammation markers. Furthermore, the aim was to characterize the pathways activated in and the cell type composition of adipose tissue in patients with EC.

METHODS

Adipose tissue and blood samples were prospectively collected from 101 patients with EC at initial surgery. WAT inflammation was determined based on adipocytes surrounded by macrophages forming crown-like structures. Circulating levels of metabolic syndrome-associated and inflammatory markers were quantified. RNA-sequencing was performed on adipose samples (n = 55); differential gene expression, pathway, and cellular decomposition analyses were performed using state-of-the-art bioinformatics methods.

RESULTS

WAT inflammation was identified in 46 (45.5%) of 101 EC patients. Dyslipidemia, hypertension, and diabetes mellitus were significantly associated with WAT inflammation (p < .05). WAT inflammation was associated with greater body mass index (p < .001) and higher circulating levels of leptin, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein, and interleukin-6, as well as lower levels of adiponectin and sex hormone-binding globulin (p < .05). Transcriptomic analysis demonstrated increased levels of proinflammatory and pro-neoplastic-related gene expression in inflamed omental adipose tissue.

CONCLUSIONS

WAT inflammation is associated with metabolic syndrome, obesity, and inflammatory markers, as well as increased expression of proinflammatory and proneoplastic genes.

The Impact of Morbid Obesity on the Health Outcomes of Hospital Inpatients: An Observational Study

Morbid obesity poses a significant burden on the health-care system. This study determined whether morbid obesity leads to worse health-outcomes in hospitalised patients. This retrospective-study examined nutritional data of all inpatients aged 18-79 years, with a body-mass-index (BMI) ≥ 18.5 kg/m² admitted over a period of 4 years at two major hospitals in Australia. Patients were divided into 3 groups for comparison: normal/overweight (BMI 18.5-29.9 kg/m²), obese (BMI 30-39.9 kg/m²) and morbidly-obese (BMI ≥ 40 kg/m²). Outcome measures included length-of-hospital-stay (LOS), in-hospital mortality, and 30-day readmissions. Multilevel-mixed-effects regression was used to compare clinical outcomes between the groups after adjustment for potential confounders. Of 16,579 patients, 1004 (6.1%) were classified as morbidly-obese. Morbidly-obese patients had a significantly longer median (IQR) LOS than normal/overweight patients (5 (2, 12) vs. 5 (2, 11) days, p value = 0.012) and obese-patients (5 (2, 12) vs. 5 (2, 10) days, p value = 0.036). After adjusted-analysis, morbidly-obese patients had a higher incidence of a longer LOS than normal/overweight patients (IRR 1.04; 95% CI 1.02-1.07; p value < 0.001) and obese-patients (IRR 1.13; 95% CI 1.11-1.16; p value < 0.001). Other clinical outcomes were similar between the different groups. Morbid obesity leads to a longer LOS in hospitalised patients but does not adversely affect other clinical outcomes.

The association of BMI and sarcopenia with survival in patients with glioblastoma multiforme

Background: The association between obesity and sarcopenia (via temporal muscle thickness) with overall survival (OS) has been evaluated in several glioblastoma multiforme studies, however, the data are inconclusive. Methods: The authors conducted meta-analyses via the generic inverse-variance method with a random-effects model. Results: In the pooled analysis of five studies, including 973 patients, patients with lower temporal muscle thickness had significantly decreased OS (HR: 1.62, 95% CI: 1.16-2.28, p = 0.005). The pooled analysis of five studies, including 2131 patients, demonstrated decreased OS in patients with lower BMI compared with patients with obesity (HR: 1.45, 95% CI: 1.12-1.88, p = 0.005). Conclusion: Readily available body composition parameters could be used for prognosis prediction and to aid in treatment decisions in patients with glioblastoma multiforme.

Survival outcomes for patients with four treatments in stages I-III esophageal squamous cell carcinoma: a SEER analysis

BACKGROUND

Esophageal cancer (EC) is globally acknowledged as one of the most common malignancies among all gastrointestinal cancers. Furthermore, in Eastern Asia, squamous cell carcinoma is the main pathological type of EC. There are different treatments for esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC), but there is still a lack of large-sample analysis of prognosis among different treatments, especially for different tumor stages. The analysis of the prognosis of ESCC patients with different treatments may be helpful to choose the treatment methods for different stages ESCC.

METHODS

A total of 3,346 patients with pathological ESCC between 1976 and 2016 were derived from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database. All clinical factors associated with prognosis were collected and analyzed to achieve the difference of prognosis among different treatments in ESCC patients, such as ages, sex, race, tumor grade, anatomic location and so on. Kaplan-Meier and Cox proportional hazard analysis were used to compare survival of different treatments in ESCC patients with stage I-III.

RESULTS

The overall survival (OS) in all ESCC patients who had received surgery and surgery plus radiation therapy or/and chemotherapy are superior than that had not received any treatments and radiation therapy or/and chemotherapy. The OS in ESCC patients with stage I who had received surgery and surgery plus radiation therapy or/and chemotherapy are superior than that had not received any treatments and radiation therapy or/and chemotherapy. The OS in ESCC patients with stage II/III who had received surgery and surgery plus radiation therapy or/and chemotherapy are superior than that in other groups. Age, race and grade as an independent predictive factor for survival (P<0.05). A nomogram model was constructed to show surgery group had better 1-, 3- and 5-year OS than radiation therapy or/and chemotherapy group (OS: 78.5% vs. 59.2%, 37.9% vs. 18.4%, 16.9% vs. 6.1%).

CONCLUSIONS

Surgery is still the first choice for all ESCC patients with stage I-III. Radiotherapy and chemotherapy could improve the survival rate in ESCC patients with stage II-III who have received surgery.

Association of Obesity With Survival Outcomes in Patients With Cancer: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

Importance

Obesity, defined as a body mass index (BMI) greater than 30, is associated with a significant increase in the risk of many cancers and in overall mortality. However, various studies have suggested that patients with cancer and no obesity (ie, BMI 20-25) have worse outcomes than patients with obesity.

Objective

To assess the association between obesity and outcomes after a diagnosis of cancer.

Data Sources

PubMed, the Cochrane Library, and EMBASE were searched from inception to January 2020.

Study Selection

Studies reporting prognosis of patients with obesity using standard BMI categories and cancer were included. Studies that used nonstandard BMI categories, that were limited to children, or that were limited to patients with hematological malignant neoplasms were excluded. Screening was performed independently by multiple reviewers. Among 1892 retrieved studies, 203 (17%) met inclusion criteria for initial evaluation.

Data Extraction and Synthesis

The Meta-analysis of Observational Studies in Epidemiology (MOOSE) and Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses (PRISMA) reporting guidelines were reporting guideline was followed. Data were extracted by multiple independent reviewers. Risk of death, cancer-specific mortality, and recurrence were pooled to provide an adjusted hazard ratio (HR) with a 95% CI . A random-effects model was used for the retrospective nature of studies.

Main Outcomes and Measures

The primary outcome of the study was overall survival (OS) in patients with cancer, with and without obesity. Secondary end points were cancer-specific survival (CSS) and progression-free survival (PFS) or disease-free survival (DFS). The risk of events was reported as HRs with 95% CIs, with an HR greater than 1 associated with a worse outcome among patients with obesity vs those without.

Results

A total of 203 studies with 6 320 365 participants evaluated the association of OS, CSS, and/or PFS or DFS with obesity in patients with cancer. Overall, obesity was associated with a reduced OS (HR, 1.14; 95% CI, 1.09-1.19; P < .001) and CSS (HR, 1.17; 95% CI, 1.12-1.23; P < .001). Patients were also at increased risk of recurrence (HR, 1.13; 95% CI, 1.07-1.19; P < .001). Conversely, patients with obesity and lung cancer, renal cell carcinoma, or melanoma had better survival outcomes compared with patients without obesity and the same cancer (lung: HR, 0.86; 95% CI, 0.76-0.98; P = .02; renal cell: HR, 0.74; 95% CI, 0.53-0.89; P = .02; melanoma: HR, 0.74; 95% CI, 0.57-0.96; P < .001).

Conclusions and Relevance

In this study, obesity was associated with greater mortality overall in patients with cancer. However, patients with obesity and lung cancer, renal cell carcinoma, and melanoma had a lower risk of death than patients with the same cancers without obesity. Weight-reducing strategies may represent effective measures for reducing mortality in these patients.

Obesity and Energy Balance Considerations in Triple-Negative Breast Cancer

ABSTRACT

Obesity is an increasingly prevalent state of energy imbalance that contributes to breast cancer risk and outcomes. The effects of obesity differ by breast cancer subtype and menopause. While most studies have focused on postmenopausal hormone receptor-positive disease, less is known about the relationship between obesity and triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC). Here we will review the observations linking obesity to TNBC, the socioeconomic disparities that contribute to obesity-related TNBC, and putative biologic mechanisms. Finally, we will consider the impact of obesity on surgical and medical treatment of TNBC and novel strategies to improve energy balance after cancer diagnosis.

Adipose tissue area as a predictor for the efficacy of apatinib in platinum-resistant ovarian cancer: an exploratory imaging biomarker analysis of the AEROC trial

BACKGROUND

Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)-targeted therapy is effective in patients with ovarian cancer. Whether adipose tissue (AT) could predict the efficacy of VEGF receptor (VEGFR) inhibitors in ovarian cancer is unknown. We aimed to evaluate the ability of distinct AT depots to predict the efficacy of apatinib, a VEGFR inhibitor, in recurrent ovarian cancers included in the AEROC trial.

METHODS

The AEROC was a single-arm phase 2 trial of apatinib and oral etoposide in patients with platinum-resistant or platinum-refractory ovarian cancer. Apatinib was administered continuously, and oral etoposide was administered every 21 days for a maximum of six cycles. This was a post hoc study based on the AEROC trial. Areas of visceral AT (VAT), subcutaneous AT (SAT), and intermuscular AT (IMAT) were measured using computed tomography scan at baseline to assess their association with the objective response rate, progression-free survival, and overall survival.

RESULTS

Of the 35 treated patients, 31 patients with at least one post-baseline efficacy assessment by computed tomography scan were included in this study. After adjusting for apatinib exposure, high VAT (odds ratio [OR], 0.16; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.03-0.90, P = 0.037) and SAT (OR, 0.16; 95% CI, 0.03-0.87, P = 0.034) were significantly associated with a higher objective response rate. Further, decreased risks of disease progression and death were associated with high VAT (hazard ratio [HR], 0.39; 95% CI, 0.17-0.92, P = 0.031, and HR, 0.12; 95% CI, 0.04-0.40, P < 0.001, respectively), SAT (HR, 0.35; 95% CI, 0.15-0.83, P = 0.027, and HR, 0.24; 95% CI, 0.08-0.67, P = 0.007, respectively), and IMAT (HR, 0.20; 95% CI, 0.06-0.74, P = 0.016, and HR, 0.13; 95% CI, 0.03-0.62, P = 0.011, respectively).

CONCLUSIONS

High areas of VAT, SAT, and IMAT were significantly associated with better outcomes in patients with platinum-resistant or platinum-refractory ovarian cancer who received VEGFR inhibitors. AT assessments may be valuable as patient-specific imaging biomarkers for predicting response to VEGFR inhibitors.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT02867956 .

Clinical characteristics and survival of 5283 esophageal cancer patients: A multicenter study from eighteen hospitals across six regions in China

Objective

This study aimed to investigate the potential determining epidemiological and clinical risk factors affecting the survival of esophageal cancer (EC) patients across multiple hospitals in China.

Methods

This was a multicenter study comprising of newly diagnosed EC cases from Beijing, Hebei, Henan, Hubei, Zhejiang, and Guangdong Province of China. Their baseline characteristics and treatment methods data were collected from their medical records. The EpiData software was used for data quality control. The Kaplan‐Meier method was used to estimate their overall survival (OS), and the Cox's proportional hazard regression model was used to estimate hazard ratios (HR) and 95% confidence interval (CI).

Results

The 3‐ and 5‐year OS rates of the 5283 investigated EC patients were 49.98% and 39.07%, respectively. Their median survival was 36.00 months. The median survival time of females was longer than that of males (females vs. males: 45.00 vs. 33.00, P < 0.001). The 5‐year OS rate of patients who never‐smoked was higher than that of smokers (never‐smokers vs smokers: 40.73% vs. 37.84%, P = 0.001). There was no significant difference in the 5‐year OS rate between drinkers and never‐drinkers (drinkers vs never‐drinkers: 34.22% vs. 29.65%, P = 0.330). In multivariate analysis, pathological stage (stage II: HR = 1.80, 95% CI = 1.40‐2.31; stage III: HR = 2.62, 95% CI = 2.06‐3.34; stage IV: HR = 3.90, 95% CI = 2.98‐5.09), poor differentiation/undifferentiated (HR = 1.34, 95% CI = 1.11‐1.63), not married status (HR = 2.45, 95% CI = 1.49‐4.04), production and service personnel (HR = 1.36, 95% CI = 1.01‐1.83) and farming/fishing (HR = 1.40, 95% CI = 1.12‐1.76) were independent prognostic risk factors for poor EC survival. Tumors in the thoracic or abdominal part of the esophagus, female and family history of any cancer were independent factors predictive of a good EC OS.

Conclusion

Gender, marital status, occupation, family history of any cancer, tumor topographical site, differentiation status, and pathological stage were associated with the survival rate of EC. This study reveals important clinical characteristics of esophageal cancer patients in China and provides helpful information for their clinical management and surveillance.

Prediagnostic adult body mass index change and esophageal adenocarcinoma survival

Background

We examined whether body mass index (BMI) changes in adulthood, prior to disease onset, are associated with overall survival among esophageal adenocarcinoma patients.

Methods

We included 285 histologically confirmed patients with a complete baseline BMI questionnaire. Using extended Cox regression models, we obtained adjusted hazard ratios (HRs) for the associations between overall survival and BMI at diagnosis, BMI 6 months before diagnosis, self‐reported average adult BMI, and ΔBMI (BMI 6 months before diagnosis minus average adult BMI), categorized into tertiles <0 kg/m² (BMI loss), ≥0 and <1.25 kg/m² (stable BMI), and ≥1.25 kg/m² (BMI gain). We also assessed interaction between ΔBMI and average adult BMI (≥ kg/m² versus <27.5 kg/m²) with overall survival.

Results

Body mass index at diagnosis >25 and <35 kg/m² was associated with better overall survival. Compared to patients with stable BMI in adulthood, patients who gained BMI throughout adulthood had 1.68 times the all‐cause hazard of death (95% CI: 1.17‐2.43; P < .01), independent of diagnosis BMI and percent weight loss 6 months before diagnosis. Compared to patients with average adult BMI < 27.5 who maintained stable adult BMI, patients with average adult BMI ≥ 27.5 kg/m² who gained BMI had the worst survival (HR = 3.05; 95% CI 1.62‐5.72; P < .01).

Conclusion

Body mass index gain in adulthood is associated with poor overall survival, and maintaining a normal body weight throughout adulthood is associated with the best overall survival among esophageal adenocarcinoma patients, independent of BMI at diagnosis.

Autocrine action of adipokine omentin-1 in the SW480 colon cancer cell line

Omentin-1, a 34-kDa protein, has been demonstrated to be associated with colorectal cancer (CRC). Epidemiological and clinical studies have indicated that the levels of circulating omentin-1 are significantly increased in patients with CRC, but the cause of the high omentin-1 levels and whether CRC cells express this adipokine have not been determined. In the present study, human colorectal carcinoma and para-carcinoma tissues were collected from 24 patients with CRC. In addition, SW480 and HCT116 colon cancer cells were cultured in vitro. The expression and localization of omentin-1 protein in human CRC and para-carcinoma tissues were determined by immunohistochemistry. The mRNA and protein expression levels of omentin-1 in human CRC and para-carcinoma tissues were detected by reverse transcription-quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR) and western blotting, respectively. In addition, omentin-1 mRNA expression levels in SW480 and HCT116 cell lines were detected by RT-qPCR. Since SW480 cells exhibited higher omentin-1 mRNA levels compared with those of HCT116 cells, SW480 cells were selected for further experiments. The expression of omentin-1 protein in the supernatant and lysate of SW480 cells obtained at 6, 12, 24 and 48 h was determined by ELISA. The immunohistochemistry results demonstrated that the positive expression of omentin-1 protein was mainly located in the cytoplasm of cancer cells in human CRC tissues. The mRNA and protein expression levels of omentin-1 in the CRC tissues were higher compared with those in para-carcinoma tissues. The expression levels of omentin-1 were detected in the cell lysate and supernatant of SW480 cells; the expression level of omentin-1 protein in the cell lysate was higher compared with that in the supernatant. These results indicated that SW480 cells secret and express the adipokine omentin-1 endogenously. Omentin-1 may serve its potential carcinogenetic role in CRC through endocrine, autocrine and paracrine pathways.

Serum Levels of 25-Hydroxyvitamin D at Diagnosis Are Not Associated with Overall Survival in Esophageal Adenocarcinoma

BACKGROUND

Higher levels of circulating 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] are associated with longer survival in several cancers, but the results have differed across cancer sites. The association between serum 25(OH)D levels and overall survival (OS) time in esophageal adenocarcinoma remains unclear.

METHODS

We utilized serum samples from 476 patients with primary esophageal adenocarcinoma, recruited from Massachusetts General Hospital (Boston, MA) between 1999 and 2015. We used log-rank tests to test the difference in survival curves across quartiles of 25(OH)D levels and extended Cox modeling to estimate adjusted HRs. We tested for interactions between clinical stage or BMI on the association between 25(OH)D and OS. We additionally performed sensitivity analyses to determine whether race or timing of blood draw (relative to treatment) affected these results.

RESULTS

We found no evidence that survival differed across quartiles of 25(OH)D (log rank P = 0.48). Adjusting for confounders, we found no evidence that the hazard of death among the highest quartile of 25(OH)D (quartile 1) differed from any other quartile [quartile 2 HR = 0.90, 95% confidence interval (CI), 0.67-1.23; quartile 3 HR = 1.03, 95% CI, 0.76-1.38; quartile 4 (lowest) HR = 0.98, 95% CI, 0.72-1.33]. Sensitivity analyses yielded consistent results when accounting for race or time between diagnosis and blood draw. Moreover, we did not find evidence of interaction between 25(OH)D and clinical stage or BMI on OS.

CONCLUSIONS

Serum level of 25(OH)D near time of diagnosis was not associated with OS in patients with esophageal adenocarcinoma.

IMPACT

Screening 25(OH)D levels among patients with esophageal adenocarcinoma at diagnosis is not clinically relevant to their cancer prognosis based on present evidence.

High BMI has no impact on the survival of Chinese patients with lower thoracic esophageal adenocarcinoma treated with curative esophagectomy: a propensity score-matched study

Controversy still exists as to whether a high body mass index (BMI) has any impact on the long-term survival of esophageal cancer patients treated with curative esophagectomy. Therefore, we conducted this propensity score-matched (PSM) study to explore the prognostic value of high BMI in Chinese patients with lower thoracic esophageal adenocarcinoma for the first time. We retrospectively collected data of patients with lower thoracic esophageal adenocarcinoma who underwent curative esophagectomy in our department from January 2009 to December 2016. Patients were grouped into high BMI group (≥23 kg/m2) and normal BMI group (18.5-22.9 kg/m2) according to the Asian specific BMI cutoff value. Both Cox regression survival analysis and PSM analysis were applied. Finally, a total of 132 patients were included for analysis. Fifty-three patients were in the high BMI group while 79 patients were in the normal BMI group. There was no significant difference regarding age, gender, comorbidity, tumor differentiation, tumor site, lymphovascular invasion, or surgical approaches between the two groups. However, patients with a high BMI tended to have more stage III diseases but a lower rate of adjuvant therapy application than those with a normal BMI. For survival, there was no significant survival difference between patients with a high BMI and those with a normal BMI (5-year overall survival (OS): 40.8% vs. 48.1%; P = 0.398). In the multivariate analysis, high BMI was not found to be an independent prognostic factor (HR = 1.028, 95%CI: 0.621-1.667, P = 0.945). A total of 92 well-matched patients were included after PSM analysis. However, there was still no significant difference of survival between the two groups (5-year OS: 41.4% vs. 43.3%; P = 0.760). Therefore, high BMI has no impact on survival of Chinese patients with lower thoracic esophageal adenocarcinoma treated with curative esophagectomy.

Temporal Changes in Esophageal Cancer Mortality by Geographic Region: A Population-based Analysis

Purpose

To analyze differences in esophageal cancer survival by geographic region of the U.S. from the 1970s to the 2000s, and attribute the causes of these discrepancies.

Methods

Raw data were obtained from the Surveillance Epidemiology and End Results (SEER) program of the National Cancer Institute. Patients were stratified by decade of diagnosis and by geographic region (East, Hawaii/Alaska, Midwest, Southwest, and West), containing SEER registries. The Kaplan-Meier method with the log-rank test was used to compare the overall survival (OS) among these geographic groups. A multivariate Cox Proportional Hazard analysis was conducted to evaluate the impact of the following factors on differences in survival: patient age, gender, race, tumor stage, site, histology, treatment method, and metropolitan size.

Results

A total of 87,834 patients were identified. OS has increased significantly since 1973, with five-year OS improving from 4.9% (the 1970s) to 15.3% (2000s) (P<0.001). Residence in the East was prognostic for higher OS compared to all the other regions, with a median OS of six months in the 1970s and 12 months in the 2000s (P<0.001). The multivariate analysis revealed increased age, African American race, distant disease, non-distal tumor location, squamous cell histology, and no radiation therapy were associated with worse OS. The West and East had the highest amount of cancer centers (12 and seven, respectively). And the East had the highest number of cancer centers per person (5.7E-07) while the South had the lowest (1.6E-07).

Conclusions

There are disparities in esophageal cancer survival and quality of care through different geographic regions of the U.S., which may be attributed to a combination of the unbalanced distribution of medical resources, the regional differences in cancer biology, and other lifestyle and socioeconomic factors. More research should be conducted to further characterize regional differences and guide the implementation of improvements in survival.

Prognostic factors in esophageal cancer treated with curative intent

The overall prognosis of patients with esophageal cancer has improved in recent decades due to surgical and medical progress, but overall survival remains poor. Better patient selection and tailored treatment are needed. Different prognostic factors linked with the patient, tumoral characteristics and treatment with curative intent have been identified and are the purpose of this review. Tumor detection at an earlier stage, the advent of new molecules and therapeutic combinations, and the centralization of management in high-volume centers should help to improve the prognosis of esophageal cancer. Improved imaging techniques and a better prediction strategy should guide future treatments.

The prognostic significance of metabolic syndrome and weight loss in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma

Our study aimed to investigate the association between metabolic syndrome and postoperative survival in patients with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma, and evaluate whether metabolic syndrome can predict the prognosis in esophageal cancer patients. The retrospective study reviewed 519 patients with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma who had received esophagetomy and lymphnode dissections in the Department of Thoracic Surgery, Qilu Hospital of Shandong University between January 2007 and December 2011. All patients were followed up until December 2016. The median follow-up time was 39.59 months (range 0.25–72 months). The 3-year and 5-year survival rate was 51.4% and 37.0%, respectively. Kaplan–Meier survival analysis revealed a significant correlation between OS and obesity (P = 0.000), weight loss (P = 0.000), diabetes (P = 0.001) and dyslipidemia (P = 0.030). Multivariate analysis indicated that advanced TNM staging (P = 0.007, HR: 1.760, 95% CI: 1.167–2.654) and more weight loss (P = 0.000, HR: 1.961, 95% CI: 1.697–2.267) were independent factors for adverse prognosis of esophageal squamous carcinoma patients. In contrast, diabetes was a protective factor in the prognosis of patients with esophageal cancer (P = 0.018, HR: 0.668, 95% CI: 0.478–0.933). Our findings suggest that TNM staging, weight changes and diabetes were independent predictors for the prognosis of esophageal cancer patients.

Impact of high body mass index on surgical outcomes and long-term survival among patients undergoing esophagectomy: A meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

The impact of high body mass index (BMI, >23/25 kg/m) on surgical outcomes and prognosis in patients with esophageal carcinoma (EC) after undergoing esophagectomy remains controversial. We herein conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to determine the relationship between high BMI and surgical outcomes and prognosis in patients undergoing esophagectomy for EC.

METHODS

The study search was conducted by retrieving publications from the PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and CNKI (up to September 8, 2017). Nineteen studies with 13,756 patients were included in this meta-analysis.

RESULTS

We found that high BMI was closely associated with a higher incidence of wound infection (odds ratio [OR]: 1.41, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.02-1.97, P = .04), cardiovascular complications (OR: 2.51, 95% CI, 1.65-3.81, P < .0001), and anastomotic leakage (OR: 1.50, 95% CI, 1.21-1.84, P = .0002), but a lower incidence of chylous leakage (OR: 0.59, 95% CI, 0.40-0.88, P = .01) when compared with normal BMI. The high BMI group was not associated with better or worse overall survival (OS) (hazard ratio [HR]: 0.95, 95% CI, 0.85-1.07, P = .4) and disease-free survival (HR: 0.95, 95% CI, 0.72-1.25, P = .72) than the normal BMI group. However, in the subgroup analysis, the pooled result of HRs generated from multivariate analyses suggested that high BMI could improve OS in EC patients (HR: 0.84, 95% CI, 0.76-0.93, P < .01).

CONCLUSIONS

Overweight patients with EC should not be denied surgical treatment, but intraoperative prevention and careful postoperative monitoring for several surgical complications must be stressed for this population. Besides, high BMI might be a prognostic predictor in EC patients; further studies are warranted.

The impact of obesity on esophagectomy: a meta-analysis

The impact of body mass index (BMI) on postoperative outcomes after curative resection for esophageal cancer has been assessed in many studies worldwide with conflicting conclusions. The aim of this meta-analysis is to evaluate the influence of preoperative BMI on surgical and oncologic outcomes after radical surgery for esophageal cancer, in Western studies. A comprehensive electronic search was performed to identify Western publications reporting BMI and outcomes following surgery for esophageal cancer. Articles that did not report preoperative BMI, postoperative morbidity, and early mortality were excluded. Statistical analysis was performed using the OpenMetaAnalyst software (Version 10.10). One hundred and ninety records were examined and 8 studies were included with a total of 2838 patients. The study population was stratified into two groups: a nonobese group (BMI < 30 kg/m2), containing 2199 patients, and an obese group (BMI ≥ 30 kg/m2), with 639 patients. In the obese group, there was an increased risk (up to 35%) of anastomotic leak (P = 0.003; RR: 0.857, 95% CI: 0.497, 0.867). The obese group showed a significantly more favorable five-year overall survival (P = 0.011). Although there was a significant association between anastomotic leak and obesity, patients with obesity also have a better overall 5-year survival. This meta-analysis demonstrates that patients with obesity should be counseled regarding the specific risks of surgery but they can be reassured that despite these risks overall outcome is satisfactory.

Excessive Pretreatment Weight Loss Is a Risk Factor for the Survival Outcome of Esophageal Carcinoma Patients Undergoing Radical Surgery and Postoperative Adjuvant Chemotherapy

BACKGROUND

The prognostic values of weight loss and body mass index (BMI) in esophageal carcinoma remain controversial. This study aimed to evaluate the impacts of weight loss on the survival of patients undergoing radical surgery and adjuvant chemotherapy.

METHODS

The medical records of 189 consecutive patients with nonmetastatic esophageal carcinoma treated in our hospital between January 2012 and December 2013 were reviewed, and 121 patients were included for analysis.

RESULTS

Kaplan-Meier analysis revealed that the 3-year overall survival rate was significantly higher in the low pretreatment weight loss (pre-LWL) group than in the high pretreatment weight loss (pre-HWL) group (P < 0.001). In addition, the 3-year overall survival rate of normal weight group was higher than that of overweight and underweight groups (P = 0.007). Multivariate Cox proportional hazards analysis showed that pre-LWL group had a significantly better 3-year overall survival than pre-HWL group (P = 0.027, HR = 1.89, and 95% CI = 1.07-3.32). pN stage and age were also the survival prognostic factors.

CONCLUSIONS

Our study showed that low pretreatment weight loss predicted a better survival outcome in the esophageal carcinoma patients with radical surgery and adjuvant chemotherapy. However, BMI and weight loss during treatment had no impact on the survival outcome.

CT-based assessment of visceral adiposity and outcomes for esophageal adenocarcinoma

Background

Various methods of quantifying and correlating obesity to outcomes for patients with esophageal adenocarcinoma (EA) have been evaluated. Published data suggest that quantification of adiposity may be more accurate than body mass index (BMI) as a prognostic factor. We report our analysis of adiposity as a prognostic factor in a series of patients with EA.

Methods

This single institution retrospective review included patients with EA who underwent esophagectomy from 1994-2008. Patients with BMI <20 were excluded. Using the preoperative CT scan, the visceral (VFA), subcutaneous (SFA), and total abdominal fat (TFA) areas were calculated. Each was contoured on a Siemens Leonardo workstation at the level of the iliac crest (L4/5). The Hounsfield threshold was -30 to -130. Outcomes were analyzed using Kaplan-Meier method and log-rank analysis. Multivariate analysis (MVA) was performed using the Cox proportion hazard regression model.

Results

We identified 126 patients for the analysis. There were no statistically significant differences in overall survival or disease-free survival between groups above and below the medians for TFA, SFA, or VFA/SFA ratio. However, an increase in VFA was significantly associated with worsened OS and DFS when we further classified patients into quartiles. Patients with VFA ≥182 cm² had larger tumor size (P=0.016), fewer involved lymph nodes (P=0.047), longer operating times (P=0.032), and were more likely to be males (P=0.042).

Conclusions

Published data have demonstrated an association between treatment outcomes and degree of adiposity; our study found a correlation between VFA and OS and DFS in patients with EA. Median TFA, SFA, and VFA/SFA were not prognostic on MVA. While VFA >182 cm² was associated with larger tumors, there were also fewer lymph nodes harvested in this group.

Positive Effect of Higher Adult Body Mass Index on Overall Survival of Digestive System Cancers Except Pancreatic Cancer: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

High body mass index (BMI) has been inconsistently associated with overall survival (OS) of digestive system cancers (DSCs). This meta-analysis was conducted to investigate whether high BMI was associated with DSCs prognosis. 34 studies were accepted, with a total of 23,946 DSC cases. Hazard ratios (HRs) with 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs) for OS in BMI categories from individual studies were extracted and pooled by random-effect model. The overall HR of DSCs except pancreatic cancer for OS of adult overweight cases was 0.76 (95% CI = 0.67–0.85). DSC individuals except pancreatic cancer with adult obesity were at decreased risk for OS (HR = 0.85, 95% CI = 0.72–0.98). Among DSC patients except pancreatic cancer, the overall HR for the highest versus the lowest BMI category was 0.82 (95% CI = 0.71–0.92). Additionally, comparing the highest and lowest BMI categories, the combined HR of pancreatic cancer was 1.22 (95% CI = 1.01–1.43). Our meta-analysis suggested an increased OS among adult overweight and obese DSC survivors except pancreatic cancer. Overweight and obesity in adulthood may be important prognostic factors that indicate an increased survival from DSC patients except pancreatic cancer.

Body mass index and prognosis in patients with head and neck cancer

BACKGROUND

Body mass index (BMI) has been associated variably with head and neck cancer outcomes. We evaluated the association between BMI at either diagnosis or at early adulthood head and neck cancer outcomes.

METHODS

Patients with invasive head and neck squamous cell cancer at Princess Margaret Cancer Centre in Toronto, Canada, were surveyed on tobacco and alcohol exposure, performance status, comorbidities, and BMI at diagnosis. A subset also had data collected for BMI at early adulthood.

RESULTS

With a median follow-up of 2.5 years, in 1279 analyzed patients, being overweight (hazard ratio [HR], 0.55; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.4-0.8; p = .001) at diagnosis was associated with improved survival when compared with individuals with normal weight. In contrast, underweight patients at diagnosis were associated with a worse outcome (HR, 1.89; 95% CI, 1.2-3.1; p < .01).

CONCLUSION

Being underweight at diagnosis was an independent, adverse prognostic factor, whereas being overweight conferred better prognosis. BMI in early adulthood was not associated strongly with head and neck cancer outcomes. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Head Neck 39: 1226-1233, 2017.

Impact of Body Mass Index on Complications and Survival after Surgery for Esophageal and Gastro-Esophageal-Junction Cancer

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

The impact of body mass index on complications and survival in patients undergoing esophagectomy has been extensively studied with conflicting results. In this study, we assess the impact of body mass index on complications and survival following surgery for esophageal and gastro-esophageal-junction cancer in a Danish population.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

We identified 285 consecutive patients, who underwent curative-intended treatment for esophageal and gastro-esophageal-junction cancer in the period 2003-2010. We manually reviewed the electronic medical records of all patients included in the study. Body mass index was calculated as weight in kilograms divided by height in meters squared. We grouped patients according to their body mass index, using the World Health Organization definition, as underweight (body mass index < 18.5 kg/m²), normal weight (body mass index: 18.5-24.9 kg/m²), overweight (body mass index: 25-29.9 kg/m²), and obese (body mass index ⩽ 30 kg/m²).

RESULTS

Median age at surgery was 65 years (range: 27-84 years), of which 207 (72.6%) were males. Patients with the lowest body mass index and the obese patients seemed to have a higher frequency of minor complications. Anastomotic leakage occurred in less than 10% of the patients and was equally distributed across the groups as was the other major complications. There were no differences in the 1-, 2-, or 5-year survival rates between the four body mass index groups after adjustment for possible confounders. Five-year survival rates for the four body mass index groups were 31.8%, 28.7%, 27.9%, and 26.1%, respectively.

CONCLUSION

Body mass index over 30 or under 18.5 does not seem to affect survival rates or the presence of serious postoperative complications following esophagectomy in patients with esophageal and gastro-esophageal-junction cancers not receiving neoadjuvant oncological treatment.

The prognostic influence of body mass index, resting energy expenditure and fasting blood glucose on postoperative patients with esophageal cancer

Background

Body mass index (BMI), resting energy expenditure (REE) and fasting blood glucose (FBG) are major preoperative assessments of patients’ nutrition and metabolic state. The relations and effects of these indices on esophageal cancer patients’ postoperative short-term and long-term outcomes remain controversial and unclear. We aimed to study the impact of BMI, REE and FBG in esophageal cancer patients undergoing esophagectomy.

Methods

Three hundred and six esophageal cancer patients who underwent esophagectomy were observed retrospectively. Clinical characteristics, postoperative complications and survival analysis were compared among different BMI, REE and FBG groups.

Results

There were significant linear relationships between REE, BMI and FBG indices, patients with low BMI tended to have low REE (p < 0.001) and low FBG (p = 0.003). No significant difference was found in case of mortality and postoperative complications among different groups. Low BMI (X² = 6.141, p = 0.046), REE (X² = 6.630, p = 0.010) and FBG (X² = 5.379, p = 0.020) were related to poor survival. FBG ≤90 mg/dL was independently associated with poor survival (HR = 0.695; 95 % CI 0.489–0.987, p = 0.042). BMI and REE came to be stronger prognostic factors on lymph node-negative patients and proved to be independent prognostic indicators (HR = 0.540; 95 % CI 0.304–0.959, p = 0.035 and HR = 0.457; 95 % CI 0.216–0.967, p = 0.041, respectively).

Conclusions

BMI, REE and FBG are important prognostic factors in patients with esophageal cancer undergoing esophagectomy and preoperative evaluation of these indices help to determine the prognosis in these patients.

Obesity and Energy Balance in GI Cancer

The prevalence of overweight (body mass index [BMI], 25 to 29.9 kg/m2) and obesity (BMI ≥ 30 kg/m2) have increased dramatically in the United States. Because increasing BMI is associated with the development of multiple different cancer types, including most GI cancers, providers will frequently encounter patients with GI cancer who are overweight or obese. Mounting evidence associates overweight and/or obesity with worsened prognosis in multiple GI cancers, including esophageal, gastric, hepatocellular, pancreatic, and colorectal. However, these data are observational and may be subject to bias and/or confounding. Furthermore, in some cancer types, the associations between BMI and outcomes is not linear, where overweight and class I obese patients may have an improvement in outcome. This report provides a brief highlight of existing studies that have linked overweight and/or obesity to prognosis in GI cancer; provides recommendations on best management practices; and discusses limitations, controversies, and future directions in this rapidly evolving area. There are multiple areas of promise that warrant continued investigation: What are the comparative contributions of energy balance, including weight, dietary patterns, and physical activity on cancer prognosis? What are the specific physiologic pathways that mediate the relationship between energy balance and prognosis? What is the relationship between low muscle mass (sarcopenia) or sarcopenic obesity and cancer prognosis? Are there subsets of patients for whom purposefully altering energy balance would be deleterious to prognosis? This area is rich with opportunities to understand how states of energy (im)balance can be favorably altered to promote healthy survivorship.

Obesity and cancer: the role of adipose tissue and adipo-cytokines-induced chronic inflammation

Adipose tissue in addition to its ability to keep lipids is now recognized as a real organ with both metabolic and endocrine functions. Recent studies demonstrated that in obese animals is established a status of adipocyte hypoxia and in this hypoxic state interaction between adipocytes and stromal vascular cells contribute to tumor development and progression. In several tumors such as breast, colon, liver and prostate, obesity represents a poor predictor of clinical outcomes. Dysfunctional adipose tissue in obesity releases a disturbed profile of adipokines with elevated levels of pro-inflammatory factors and a consequent alteration of key signaling mediators which may be an active local player in establishing the peritumoral environment promoting tumor growth and progression. Therefore, adipose tissue hypoxia might contribute to cancer risk in the obese population. To date the precise mechanisms behind this obesity-cancer link is not yet fully understood. In the light of information provided in this review that aims to identify the key mechanisms underlying the link between obesity and cancer we support that inflammatory state specific of obesity may be important in obesity-cancer link.

Prognostic impact of body mass index stratified by smoking status in patients with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma

Background

As smoking affects the body mass index (BMI) and causes the risk of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC), the prognostic impact of BMI in ESCC could be stratified by smoking status. We investigated the true prognostic effect of BMI and its potential modification by smoking status in ESCC.

Methods

We retrospectively analyzed 459 patients who underwent curative treatment at a single institution between January 2007 and December 2010. BMI was calculated using the measured height and weight before surgery. Chi-square test was used to evaluate the relationships between smoking status and other clinicopathological variables. The Cox proportional hazard models were used for univariate and multivariate analyses of variables related to overall survival.

Results

BMI <18.5 kg/m² was a significantly independent predictor of poor survival in the overall population and never smokers after adjusting for covariates, but not in ever smokers. Among never smokers, underweight patients (BMI <18.5 kg/m²) had a 2.218 times greater risk of mortality than non-underweight (BMI ≥18.5 kg/m²) patients (P=0.015). Among ever smokers, BMI <18 kg/m² increased the risk of mortality to 1.656 (P=0.019), compared to those having BMI ≥18 kg/m².

Conclusion

Our study is likely the first to show that the prognostic effect of BMI was substantial in ESCC, even after stratifying by smoking status. Furthermore, the risk of death due to low BMI would be significantly increased in never smokers. We believe that the prognostic impact of BMI is modified but not eliminated by the smoking status in ESCC.

The Obesity Paradox in Cancer: a Review

There is a common perception that excess adiposity, commonly approximated by body mass index (BMI), is associated with reduced cancer survival. A number of studies have emerged challenging this by demonstrating that overweight and early obese states are associated with improved survival. This finding is termed the "obesity paradox" and is well recognized in the cardio-metabolic literature but less so in oncology. Here, we summarize the epidemiological findings related to the obesity paradox in cancer. Our review highlights that many observations of the obesity paradox in cancer reflect methodological mechanisms including the crudeness of BMI as an obesity measure, confounding, detection bias, reverse causality, and a specific form of the selection bias, known as collider bias. It is imperative for the oncologist to interpret the observation of the obesity paradox against the above methodological framework and avoid the misinterpretation that being obese might be "good" or "protective" for cancer patients.

Association between body mass index and in-hospital outcomes: Analysis of the nationwide inpatient database

IMPORTANCE

Over one-third of American adults (36%) are obese and more than two-thirds (69%) are overweight. The impact of obesity on hospitalization outcomes is not well understood.

OBJECTIVE

To examine the association between body mass index (BMI) and overall, cancer, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), asthma, and cardiovascular disease (CVD)-specific in-hospital mortality; postsurgical complications; and hospital length of stay (LOS).

DESIGN

Cross-sectional study.

SETTING

Representative sample of US hospitals included in the Health Cost and Utilization Project Nationwide Inpatient Sample database.

PARTICIPANTS

We obtained data for patients admitted with a primary diagnosis of cancer, COPD, asthma, and CVD.

MAIN OUTCOME

In-hospital mortality, postsurgical complications, and hospital LOS.

RESULTS

A total of 800,417 patients were included in this analysis. A higher proportion of Blacks (26.8%; 12.5%) and Whites (23.3%; 8.7%) had BMI of 40 to 49.9 and ≥50, respectively, compared with Hispanics (20.4%; 7.3%). Compared with normal BMI patients, the odds of in-hospital mortality increased 3.6-fold (odds ratio [OR] 3.62, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 3.37-3.89) for preobese patients, 6.5-fold (OR: 6.52, 95% CI: 5.79-7.34) for patients with BMI: 30 to 31.9, 7.5-fold (OR: 7.57, 95% CI: 6.67-8.59) for patients with BMI: 34 to 35.9, and 1.6- fold (OR: 1.77, 95% CI: 1.56-1.79) for patients with BMI ≥ 50. Compared with normal BMI patients, preobese and overweight patients had shorter hospital stays (β preobese: -1.58, 95% CI: -1.63, -1.52); however, no clear trends were observed for postsurgical complications.

CONCLUSIONS

The majority of hospitalized patients in this analysis had a BMI > 30, and higher BMI was associated with increased risk of mortality and longer hospital stay.

Influence of Body Mass Index on the Prognostic Value of Tumor ¹⁸F-FDG Uptake in Stage I Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer

Background

The impact of host energy balance status on outcome of lung cancer has not been fully explored. It is also unknown if there is a potential modifying effect of body mass index (BMI) on tumor cell behavior in patients with early-stage non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). We therefore investigated the interactive effects of tumor [¹⁸F]-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) avidity and BMI.

Methods

We investigated 1,197 patients with stage I NSCLC who underwent preoperative FDG positron emission tomography followed by curative resection. The primary outcome measure was disease-free survival (DFS). A multivariable Cox proportional hazards model was used to assess the potential independent effects of the prognostic variables. A stratified Cox regression analysis was also performed to assess the potential modifying effects of BMI on the relationship between tumor FDG uptake and patient survival.

Results

There were 145 tumor recurrences and 19 deaths during a median follow-up of 30 months. Tumor-related variables, including tumor size, maximum standardized uptake value (SUVmax), histologic cell type, differentiation, lymphovascular invasion, and visceral pleural invasion, did not differ significantly according to BMI status. In multivariable Cox regression analysis, overweight or obesity [hazard ratio (HR), 0.59; 95% CI, 0.43–0.81; P = 0.001] and tumor SUVmax (HR, 1.72; 95% CI, 1.43–2.07; P < 0.001) were significantly associated with DFS. There was a significant modifying effect of BMI (P for interaction < 0.001 in multivariable analysis). High tumor SUVmax was more strongly associated with worse DFS in normal weight patients (HR, 4.72; 95% CI, 2.77–8.06; P < 0.001) than in overweight or obese patients (HR, 2.61; 95% CI, 1.58–4.31; P < 0.001).

Conclusions

Tumor FDG avidity is an independent predictor of DFS in patients with early-stage NSCLC and this prognostic value was strengthened in normal weight patients than in overweight or obese patients. These results suggest that the host-tumor interaction between host energy balance status and tumor glucose metabolism plays an important role in the outcome of early-stage NSCLC.

Obesity and Cancer: Concepts and Challenges

The rates of overweight and obesity are increasing worldwide in both developed and developing countries. Obesity is a major public health problem as it is associated with many diseases, including diabetes, hypertension, dyslipidemia, atherosclerosis, and some types of cancer. Breast cancer is a malignancy in which both the risk of development and the prognosis are negatively impacted by the obese state. The precise mechanisms pathophysiologically linking obesity and cancer are still under investigation. The biological basis for these associations includes both systemic and local tissue effects and white adipose tissue inflammation appears to be a critical component. A comprehensive understanding of the mechanisms linking obesity, inflammation and cancer may provide an opportunity for the development of strategies to attenuate the negative impact of obesity.

Negative impact of low body mass index on liver cirrhosis patients with hepatocellular carcinoma

Background

The impact of obesity on the prognosis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) has not been well characterized in a Chinese population. Therefore, the aim of this study was to examine the influence of BMI on the clinicopathological characteristics and mortality of patients with HCC.

Methods

The study cohort consisted of 379 patients who were diagnosed with HCC at the First Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University between June 2012 and August 2014. Study subjects were divided into two body mass index (BMI) categories: normal weight (BMI <23 kg/m²) and overweight (BMI ≥23 kg/m²).

Results

Of the 379 patients, 44 (11.6 %) were underweight (<18.5 kg/m²), 172 (45.4 %) had a normal weight (18.5 ≤ BMI < 23.0), 133 (35.1 %) were overweight (23.0 ≤ BMI < 27.5), and 30 (7.9 %) were obese (BMI ≥27.5). After a median follow-up time of 296 (range, 15–720) days, 168 (44.3 %) patients died with median survival time of 159 (range, 15–690) days. Patients with lower BMIs also exhibited a higher liver-related mortality rate (60.6 vs. 22.7 %; p = 1.8 × 10⁻¹³) and a shorter survival time (353 days vs. 571 days; p = 6.2 × 10⁻⁶) than patients with higher BMIs. In multivariate analysis, the BMI class was also found to be a significant independent impact factor for overall survival (p = 2.2 × 10⁻⁸), age, alpha-fetoprotein level, Child–Pugh score, treatment strategy, antiviral treatment, extrahepatic metastasis, and tumor infiltration of the portal vein.

Conclusions

Our data suggest that lower BMI has a significant impact regarding poor outcomes in patients with HCC. To better understand the impact of BMI on the prognosis of HCC patients, more large-scale cohort studies will be necessary.

Obesity and cancer: local and systemic mechanisms

Obesity is a leading modifiable risk factor for the development of several epithelial malignancies. In addition to increasing risk, obesity also confers worse prognosis for many cancers. Obesity represents an overall state of energy imbalance frequently associated with systemic effects including insulin resistance, altered hormone signaling, and high circulating levels of proinflammatory mediators. In addition to its systemic effects, obesity causes subclinical white adipose inflammation including increased tissue levels of proinflammatory mediators. Both local and systemic effects are likely to contribute to the development and progression of cancer. An understanding of the interplay between local and systemic alterations involved in the obesity-cancer link provides the basis for developing interventions aimed at mitigating the protumorigenic effects.

Targeting obesity-related adipose tissue dysfunction to prevent cancer development and progression

The incidence of obesity, a leading modifiable risk factor for common solid tumors, is increasing. Effective interventions are needed to minimize the public health implications of obesity. Although the mechanisms linking increased adiposity to malignancy are incompletely understood, growing evidence points to complex interactions among multiple systemic and tissue-specific pathways including inflamed white adipose tissue. The metabolic and inflammatory consequences of white adipose tissue dysfunction collectively provide a plausible explanation for the link between overweight/obesity and carcinogenesis. Gaining a better understanding of these underlying molecular pathways and developing risk assessment tools that identify at-risk populations will be critical in implementing effective and novel cancer prevention and management strategies.

Regenerative Medicine Strategies for Esophageal Repair

Pathologies that involve the structure and/or function of the esophagus can be life-threatening. The esophagus is a complex organ comprising nonredundant tissue that does not have the ability to regenerate. Currently available interventions for esophageal pathology have limited success and are typically associated with significant morbidity. Hence, there is currently an unmet clinical need for effective methods of esophageal repair. The present article presents a review of esophageal disease along with the anatomic and functional consequences of each pathologic process, the shortcomings associated with currently available therapies, and the latest advancements in the field of regenerative medicine with respect to strategies for esophageal repair from benchtop to bedside.

Impact of body mass index on survival of esophageal squamous carcinoma patients in southern China

BACKGROUND

Although high body mass index (BMI) increases risk for developing esophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC), the prognostic influence of BMI is unknown in esophageal squamous carcinoma.

METHODS

BMI was calculated using measured height and weight at the first diagnosis and categorized as overweight (25 to 29.9 kg/m(2)), normal (18.5 to 24.9 kg/m(2)) or underweight (<18.5 kg/m(2)). Survival was compared by using the log-rank test on the Kaplan-Meier life table. Multivariate Cox regression analysis was used to evaluate whether BMI was an independent prognostic factor for disease-specific survival (DSS).

RESULTS

Among 1,176 esophageal squamous carcinoma patients, 146 (12.4%) were categorized as overweight, and 277 (23.6%) underweight. More patients in the underweight group had anemia (P=0.001), weight loss (P=0.035) and R1 resection (P<0.001). Less patients in the underweight group received adjuvant chemotherapy (P=0.01). Patients in the overweight group had a higher incidence rate of high blood pressure (P<0.001), diabetes (P<0.001) and coronary artery diseases (P<0.001). Moreover, more patients in the overweight group had a lower TNM stage (P=0.003). In the univariated analysis, high BMI was significantly associated with better DSS (P=0.013).

CONCLUSIONS

After adjusting for covariates enrolled for study, high BMI was an independent prognostic factor in weight loss esophageal squamous carcinoma patients.

Prognostic significance of the pN classification supplemented by body mass index for esophageal squamous cell carcinoma

Background

Body mass index (BMI) has been associated with the risk of esophageal cancer. But the influence of BMI on postoperative complications and prognosis has always been controversial.

Methods

Between 2000 and 2007, 424 patients with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) underwent R0 esophagectomy at our center without neoadjuvant therapy. We performed univariate and multivariate analyses to identify prognostic factors for survival.

Results

Patients were divided into three groups according to Asian-specific BMI cut-off value: underweight (n = 45), normal weight (n = 228), and overweight and obese (n = 151). Mean follow-up time was 39 months. The five-year overall survival (OS) rate was 19%, 34%, and 42% for underweight, normal weight, and overweight and obese, respectively (P < 0.001). The five-year disease-free survival (DFS) rate was 24%, 41%, and 74% for underweight, normal weight, and overweight and obese, respectively (P < 0.001). Multivariate analysis showed that pT, pN, and BMI were independent prognostic factors for DFS and OS. The C-index to the combined model showed improved predictive ability when compared to the pN classification (0.779 vs. 0.734).

Conclusion

Preoperative BMI was an independent prognostic factor for OS and DFS. The proposed new prognostic model with the pN classification supplemented by BMI might improve the ability to discriminate ESCC patients’ outcome.

Impact of body mass index on surgical outcomes after esophagectomy for patients with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma

BACKGROUND

Patients with overweight reportedly have more comorbidities, including diabetes mellitus and cardiovascular disease, and longer operating times as well as more blood loss during surgery compared with those with normal weight. However, the impact of overweight on the short-term outcome after transthoracic esophagectomy for patients with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) remains unclear. We hypothesized that overweight has a negative impact on short-term surgical outcomes after esophagectomy for patients with ESCC.

METHODS

A total of 304 patients who underwent transthoracic esophagectomy for ESCC were included in this study. Body mass index (BMI) was classified into three categories, <18.49, 18.50-24.99, and >25.00 (kg/m(2)), defined as low, normal, and high BMI, respectively, according to the World Health Organization criteria. We investigated the association of BMI status with patient demographics and surgical outcomes after esophagectomy for patients with ESCC. In addition, overall survival and relapse-free survival stratified by BMI were compared.

RESULTS

Fifty-nine (19.4 %) and 41 (13.4 %) patients were classified to low BMI and high BMI, respectively. The high-BMI group had significantly higher comorbidity rates of diabetes mellitus (p < 0.01) and anastomotic leakage (p = 0.011) than the normal-BMI group. There were no significant association between high BMI and another various complications except for an anastomotic leakage, severe complications defined by Clavien-Dindo classification and in-hospital mortality. In multivariate analysis, high BMI was a significant risk factor for anastomotic leakage (p = 0.030, hazard ratio; 3.423, 95%CI; 1.128-10.38). On the other hand, no significant association was observed between low BMI and short surgical outcomes. There were no significant differences in overall and relapse-free survival among the three BMI groups in univariate and multivariate analysis (p = 0.128 and p = 0.584, respectively).

CONCLUSION

The surgical treatment should not be denied for patients with ESCC due to overweight and underweight. However, intraoperative prevention and postoperative careful monitoring for anastomotic leakage might be required after esophagectomy for overweight patients with ESCC.

Obesity paradox: conditioning on disease enhances biases in estimating the mortality risks of obesity

Supplemental Digital Content is available in the text.

Background:

Many studies have documented an obesity paradox—a survival advantage of being obese—in populations diagnosed with a medical condition. Whether obesity is causally associated with improved mortality in these conditions is unresolved.

Methods:

We develop the logic of collider bias as it pertains to the association between smoking and obesity in a diseased population. Data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) are used to investigate this bias empirically among persons with diabetes and prediabetes (dysglycemia). We also use NHANES to investigate whether reverse causal pathways are more prominent among people with dysglycemia than in the source population. Cox regression analysis is used to examine the extent of the obesity paradox among those with dysglycemia. In the regression analysis, we explore interactions between obesity and smoking, and we implement a variety of data restrictions designed to reduce the extent of reverse causality.

Results:

We find an obesity paradox among persons with dysglycemia. In this population, the inverse association between obesity and smoking is much stronger than in the source population, and the extent of illness and weight loss is greater. The obesity paradox is absent among never-smokers. Among smokers, the paradox is eliminated through successive efforts to reduce the extent of reverse causality.

Conclusion:

Higher mortality among normal-weight people with dysglycemia is not causal but is rather a product of the closer inverse association between obesity and smoking in this subpopulation.

Excess visceral adiposity induces alterations in mitochondrial function and energy metabolism in esophageal adenocarcinoma

BACKGROUND

Visceral obesity has a strong association with both the incidence and mortality of esophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC). Alterations in mitochondrial function and energy metabolism is an emerging hallmark of cancer, however, the potential role that obesity plays in driving these alterations in EAC is currently unknown.

METHODS

Adipose conditioned media (ACM) was prepared from visceral adipose tissue taken from computed tomography-determined viscerally-obese and non-obese EAC patients. Mitochondrial function in EAC cell lines was assessed using fluorescent probes, mitochondrial gene expression was assessed using qPCR-based gene arrays and intracellular ATP levels were determined using a luminescence-based kit. Glycolysis and oxidative phosphophorylation was measured using Seahorse XF technology and metabolomic analysis was performed using 1H NMR. Expression of metabolic markers was assessed in EAC tumor biopsies by qPCR.

RESULTS

ACM from obese EAC patients significantly increased mitochondrial mass and mitochondrial membrane potential in EAC cells, which was significantly associated with visceral fat area, and was coupled with a significant decrease in reactive oxygen species. This mitochondrial dysfunction was accompanied by altered expression of 19 mitochondrial-associated genes and significantly reduced intracellular ATP levels. ACM from obese EAC patients induced a metabolic shift to glycolysis in EAC cells, which was coupled with significantly increased sensitivity to the glycolytic inhibitor 2-deoxyglucose. Metabolomic profiling demonstrated an altered glycolysis and amino acid-related signature in ACM from obese patients. In EAC tumors, expression of the glycolytic marker PKM2 was significantly positively associated with obesity.

CONCLUSION

This study demonstrates for the first time that ACM from viscerally-obese EAC patients elicits an altered metabolic profile and can drive mitochondrial dysfunction and altered energy metabolism in EAC cells in vitro. In vivo, in EAC patient tumors, expression of the glycolytic enzyme PKM2 is positively associated with obesity.

A high body mass index in esophageal cancer patients is not associated with adverse outcomes following esophagectomy

PURPOSE

There is no consensus about the impact of a high BMI on postoperative morbidity and survival after esophagectomy. The aim of this study was to determine the influence of a high BMI on postoperative complications and survival in a large cohort of esophageal cancer patients.

METHODS

From January 2006 to December 2012, 1,342 consecutive esophageal cancer patients who underwent esophagectomy were included in this study. Patients were divided into three groups: 950 patients were classified as normal BMI (BMI 18.5-24.9 kg/m(2)), 279 were classified as high BMI (BMI ≥ 25 kg/m(2)), and 113 as low BMI (BMI < 18.5 kg/m(2)). Multivariate logistic regression models were used to identify confounding factors associated with postoperative complications. The impact of BMI on overall survival (OS) was estimated by the Kaplan-Meier method and Cox proportional hazard models.

RESULTS

The predominance of pathological type was esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (n = 1,280, 95.4 %). Overall morbidity, mortality, and hospital stay did not differ among groups. The incidence of pneumonia was higher in patients with high BMI compared with those with normal BMI (14.7 vs. 9.9 %, P = 0.025). However, chylothorax was less frequent in high-BMI group (0.4 % in high-BMI group, 3.1 % in normal group, and 3.5 % in low group, P = 0.011). Logistic regression analysis revealed high BMI was independently associated with decreased incidence of chylothorax [HR 0.86; 95 % confidence interval 0.76-0.97]. Overweight and obese patients had significantly better overall survival than underweight patients (median OS 55.6 vs. 32.5 months, P = 0.013), while the pathological stage was significantly higher in underweight patients (P = 0.001). In multivariate analysis, T status, N status, differentiation grade, and tumor length were identified as independent prognostic factors.

CONCLUSION

A high BMI is not associated with increased overall morbidity following esophagectomy; moreover, it is associated with decreased incidence of chylothorax. The better overall survival in patients with high BMI compared with those with low BMI might be due to a relatively low pathological stage. A high BMI should therefore not be a relative contraindication for esophagectomy.

The role of obesity in oesophageal cancer development

The incidence of oesophageal adenocarcinoma has increased dramatically in the developed world in the last half century. Over approximately the same period there has been an increase in the prevalence of obesity. Multiple epidemiological studies and meta-analyses have confirmed that obesity, especially abdominal, visceral obesity, is a risk factor for gastro-oesophageal reflux, Barrett's oesophagus and oesophageal adenocarcinoma. Although visceral obesity enhances gastro-oesophageal reflux, the available data also show that visceral obesity increases the risk of Barrett's oesophagus and adenocarcinoma via reflux-independent mechanisms. Several possible mechanisms could link obesity with the risk of oesophageal adenocarcinoma in addition to mechanical effects increasing reflux. These include reduced gastric Helicobacter pylori infection, altered intestinal microbiome, factors related to lifestyle, the metabolic syndrome and associated low-grade inflammation induced by obesity and the secretion of mediators by adipocytes which may directly influence the oesophageal epithelium. Of these adipocyte-derived mediators, increased leptin levels have been independently associated with progression to oesophageal adenocarcinoma and in laboratory studies leptin enhances malignant behaviours in cell lines. Adiponectin is also secreted by adipocytes and levels decline with obesity: decreased serum adiponectin levels are associated with malignant progression in Barrett's oesophagus and experimentally adiponectin exerts anticancer effects in Barrett's cell lines and inhibits growth factor signalling. At present there are no proven chemopreventative interventions that may reduce the incidence of obesity-associated oesophageal cancer: observational studies suggest that the combined use of a statin and aspirin or another cyclo-oxygenase inhibitor is associated with a significantly reduced cancer incidence in patients with Barrett's oesophagus.

The 'obesity paradox' and survival after colorectal cancer: true or false?

Body mass index (BMI), as an approximation of general adiposity, is an established risk factor for incidence of several adult cancer types, including colorectal cancer (CRC). There is a common perception that these relationships extrapolate directly as adverse prognostic factors after diagnosis, but evidence for this is lacking. The paper from Sclesinger et al. in this issue of the journal adds a new dimension to this debate focusing on relationships of post-diagnosis BMI (as a marker of the steady-state weight among survivors) and survival, and provides evidence on a decreased mortality risk among overweight (post-diagnosis BMI 25.0-29.9 kg/m(2)) compared with normal weight (post-diagnosis BMI 18.5-24.9 kg/m(2)) CRC survivors-an example of an 'obesity paradox.' The observation of the 'obesity paradox' is well documented in the methodology literature, but perhaps, less familiar to the cancer readership. Three broad classes of explanation are posited: (1) the associations are true and plausible; (2) the associations are false and reflect methodological issues; or (3) the observations represent a specific form of selection bias, known as collider bias. The present author argues that the obesity paradox reflects the latter-a product of a statistical bias-and emphasizes that, while these findings are hypothesis generating, they will not alter clinical practice or recommendations.