Post-diagnosis adiposity and colorectal cancer prognosis: A Global Cancer Update Programme (CUP Global) systematic literature review and meta-analysis

The adiposity influence on colorectal cancer prognosis remains poorly characterised. We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis on post-diagnosis adiposity measures (body mass index [BMI], waist circumference, waist-to-hip ratio, weight) or their changes and colorectal cancer outcomes. PubMed and Embase were searched through 28 February 2022. Random-effects meta-analyses were conducted when at least three studies had sufficient information. The quality of evidence was interpreted and graded by the Global Cancer Update Programme (CUP Global) independent Expert Committee on Cancer Survivorship and Expert Panel. We reviewed 124 observational studies (85 publications). Meta-analyses were possible for BMI and all-cause mortality, colorectal cancer-specific mortality, and cancer recurrence/disease-free survival. Non-linear meta-analysis indicated a reverse J-shaped association between BMI and colorectal cancer outcomes (nadir at BMI 28 kg/m2). The highest risk, relative to the nadir, was observed at both ends of the BMI distribution (18 and 38 kg/m2), namely 60% and 23% higher risk for all-cause mortality; 95% and 26% for colorectal cancer-specific mortality; and 37% and 24% for cancer recurrence/disease-free survival, respectively. The higher risk with low BMI was attenuated in secondary analyses of RCTs (compared to cohort studies), among studies with longer follow-up, and in women suggesting potential methodological limitations and/or altered physiological state. Descriptively synthesised studies on other adiposity-outcome associations of interest were limited in number and methodological quality. All the associations were graded as limited (likelihood of causality: no conclusion) due to potential methodological limitations (reverse causation, confounding, selection bias). Additional well-designed observational studies and interventional trials are needed to provide further clarification.

Computed tomography-measured body composition can predict long-term outcomes for stage I-III colorectal cancer patients

Background

There remains a pressing need to identify biomarkers capable of reliably predicting prognostic outcomes for colorectal cancer (CRC) patients. As several body composition parameters have recently been reported to exhibit varying levels of prognostic significance in particular cancers, the present study was devised to assess the ability of body composition to predict long-term outcomes for CRC patients with different stages of disease.

Methods

In total, this retrospective analysis enrolled 327 stage I-III CRC patients whose medical records were accessed for baseline demographic and clinical data. Primary outcomes for these patients included disease-free and overall survival (DFS and OS). The prognostic performance of different musculature, visceral, and subcutaneous fat measurements from preoperative computed tomography (CT) scans was assessed.

Results

Over the course of follow-up, 93 of the enrolled patients experienced recurrent disease and 39 died. Through multivariate Cox regression analyses, the visceral/subcutaneous fat area (V/S) ratio was found to be independently associated with patient DFS (HR=1.93, 95% CI: 1.24-3.01, P=0.004), and the skeletal muscle index (SMI) as an independent predictor for OS (HR=0.43, 95% CI: 0.21-0.89, P=0.023). Through subgroup analyses, higher V/S ratios were found to be correlated with reduced DFS among patients with stage T3/4 (P=0.011), lymph node metastasis-positive (P=0.002), and TNM stage III (P=0.002) disease, whereas a higher SMI was associated with better OS in all T stages (P=0.034, P=0.015), lymph node metastasis-positive cases (P=0.020), and in patients with TNM stage III disease (P=0.020).

Conclusion

Both the V/S ratio and SMI offer potential utility as clinical biomarkers associated with long-term CRC patient prognosis. A higher V/S ratio and a lower SMI are closely related to poorer outcomes in patients with more advanced disease.

Relationship between visceral obesity and prognosis in patients with stage IVB cervical cancer receiving radiotherapy and chemotherapy

Background

Concurrent chemoradiotherapy is the preferred treatment for stage IVB cervical cancer; however, some patients experience a poor prognosis. The prognostic significance of body composition indicators, including visceral obesity, has been extensively investigated in patients with cancer. This study aimed to assess the impact of body composition indicators, specifically pretreatment fat content, on the survival outcomes of patients with stage IVB cervical cancer.

Methods

We retrospectively analyzed clinical information from patients diagnosed with stage IVB cervical cancer between 2010 and 2018. We measured visceral obesity (visceral-to-subcutaneous adipose tissue area ratio [VSR]) and skeletal muscle index (SMI) on pretreatment computed tomography (CT) images. We evaluated the impact of these body composition parameters on the prognosis of patients with cervical cancer.

Results

Overall, 116 patients were included, 81 of whom had complete clinical and imaging information. Based on the cut-off values from X-tile analysis, we categorized patients into high and low VSR and SMI groups. The overall survival (OS) rate of patients with a high VSR was significantly higher than that of patients with a low VSR (P = 0.022). Multivariate Cox regression analysis showed that a low VSR was an independent risk factor for the prognosis of patients with stage IVB cervical cancer.

Conclusion

Visceral obesity before radiotherapy and chemotherapy has a protective effect on the prognosis of patients with stage IVB cervical cancer, while low muscle index and VSR are associated with poor prognosis.

Body Composition Analysis Techniques and Its Application in Oncology: A Review

The oncology community has shown growing interest to understand how body composition measures can be utilized to improve cancer treatment and survivorship care for about 20 million individuals diagnosed with cancer annually. Recent observational studies demonstrate that muscle and adipose tissue distribution are risk factors for clinical outcomes such as postoperative complications, and worse overall survival. There is an emergent recognition that body mass index (BMI) is neither adequate to identify patients with adverse health outcomes due to poor muscle health or excess adiposity, nor does BMI accurately classify the distribution of adiposity. Abdominal CT is a most frequently imaging examination for a wide variety of clinical indications, but it is only used to diagnose the immediate problem. Additionally, each CT examination contains very robust data on body composition which generally goes unused in routine clinical practice. The field is eager to identify therapeutic interventions that modify body composition and reduce the incidence of poor clinical outcomes in this population. Large scale population based screening is feasible now by making all of these relevant biometric measures fully automated through the use of artificial intelligence algorithms, which provide rapid and objective assessment.

Change in abdominal obesity after colon cancer surgery - effects of left-sided and right-sided colonic resection

BACKGROUND

Excess abdominal visceral adipose tissue (VAT) is associated with metabolic diseases and poor survival in colon cancer (CC). We assessed the impact of different types of CC surgery on changes in abdominal fat depots.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Computed tomography (CT)-scans performed preoperative and 3 years after CC surgery were analyzed at L3-level for VAT, subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT) and total adipose tissue (TAT) areas. We assessed changes in VAT, SAT, TAT and VAT/SAT ratio after 3 years and compared the changes between patients who had undergone left-sided and right-sided colonic resection in the total population and in men and women separately.

RESULTS

A total of 134 patients with stage I-III CC undergoing cancer surgery were included. Patients who had undergone left-sided colonic resection had after 3 years follow-up a 5% (95% CI: 2-9%, p < 0.01) increase in abdominal VAT, a 4% (95% CI: 2-6%, p < 0.001) increase in SAT and a 5% increase (95% CI: 2-7%, p < 0.01) in TAT. Patients who had undergone right-sided colonic resection had no change in VAT, but a 6% (95% CI: 4-9%, p < 0.001) increase in SAT and a 4% (95% CI: 1-7%, p < 0.01) increase in TAT after 3 years. Stratified by sex, only males undergoing left-sided colonic resection had a significant VAT increase of 6% (95% CI: 2-10%, p < 0.01) after 3 years.

CONCLUSION

After 3 years follow-up survivors of CC accumulated abdominal adipose tissue. Notably, those who underwent left-sided colonic resection had increased VAT and SAT, whereas those who underwent right-sided colonic resection demonstrated solely increased SAT.

Preoperative visceral fat index predicts the survival outcomes of patients with gastric cancer after surgery

Visceral adipose tissue and skeletal muscle mass are associated with carcinogenesis and clinical outcomes in patients with cancer. The aim of the present study was to determine the influence of body composition parameters on postoperative survival in patients with gastric cancer. Demographic data and systemic inflammatory response data were obtained from patients with gastric cancer undergoing radical gastrectomy. The patient's skeletal muscle and visceral fat were assessed using computed tomography, and the corresponding skeletal muscle index (SMI) and visceral fat index (VFI) were calculated. Univariate and multivariate analyses were then performed. Of the 342 patients from whom information was collected, 125 of these patients eventually succumbed to the disease. A total of 271 (79.24%) of the patients were male and 71 (20.76%) were female. Regarding the entire cohort, the mean age was 64 years [interquartile range (IQR), 56-74 years], while the mean body mass index collected was 21.53 (IQR, 19.27-24.22). The median SMI and VFI of the patients were 47.73 (IQR, 41.67-55.51) and 41.28 (IQR, 36.62-45.36), respectively. It was concluded that a low SMI and VFI were associated with worse survival outcomes. However, the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio and perioperative blood transfusion were not significantly associated with overall survival (OS). Among the indicators assessed, a low VFI was an independent risk factor associated with the worst OS time (hazard ratio 1.59; confidence interval, 1.03-2.45; P=0.038). Finally, a prognostic nomogram was constructed which included the VFI to assist clinicians in making more informed decisions. In conclusion, after data collection and analysis, it was found that there was a significant correlation between a low VFI and a shorter OS time in patients with gastric cancer following gastrectomy, suggesting that VFI may be a promising therapeutic target for postoperative interventions to improve patient survival further.

Association of preoperative muscle-adipose index measured by computed tomography with survival in patients with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma

BACKGROUND

Conventional nutritional metrics are closely associated with the prognosis of patients with radically resected esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC). Nevertheless, the prognostic implications of muscle and adipose tissue composite indexes in ESCC remain unknown.

METHODS

We retrospectively analyzed clinicopathological data of 304 patients who underwent resected ESCC. To obtain measurements of the muscle and adipose indexes, preoperative computed tomography (CT) images were used to quantify skeletal-muscle adipose tissue. The diagnostic threshold for muscle-adipose imbalance was determined using X-tile software and used to analyze the association between the muscle-adipose index (MAI) and survival. Instantaneous risk of recurrence was assessed using a hazard function. We constructed a nomogram based on the MAI and other clinical characteristics and established a novel predictive model with independent prognostic factors. The prognostic capabilities of these nomograms were evaluated using calibration curves, receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves, and decision-curve analysis (DCA).

RESULTS

The overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS) rates in the muscle-adipose-balanced group were significantly better than those in the muscle-adipose-imbalanced group. Multivariate analyses revealed that the MAI, prognostic nutritional index (PNI), tumor stage, and tumor differentiation were independent prognostic factors for OS and DFS in patients with resected ESCC (P < 0.05). The nuclear density curve indicated a lower risk of recurrence for patients in the muscle-adipose-balanced group than that for their imbalanced counterparts. Conversely, the nuclear density curve for PNI was confounded. Postoperative radiotherapy- (RT) benefit analysis demonstrated that patients with ESCC in the muscle-adipose-balanced group could benefit from adjuvant RT.

CONCLUSION

This study confirmed that preoperative MAI could serve as a useful independent prognostic factor in patients with resected ESCC. A nomogram based on the MAI and other clinical characteristics could provide individualized survival prediction for patients receiving radical resection. Timely and appropriate nutritional supplements may improve treatment efficacy.

Colon Cancer Survivorship in Patients Who Have Received Adjuvant Chemotherapy

The number of colon cancer survivors in the United States is increasing due to improved early detection, better treatments that extend survival, and the growing aging population who are at high risk for cancer. Following initial active treatment, colon cancer survivors experience a wide range of long-term physical, psychological, and socio-economic effects that impact their overall well-being. Healthcare providers caring for survivors need to prioritize not only monitoring for cancer recurrence but also optimizing their overall health through addressing these long-term effects; managing their comorbidities; promoting healthy behaviors (like exercise, nutrition, and weight loss); and screening for a second primary cancer depending on their risk. Personalized survivorship care plans should be formulated clearly outlining the roles of various healthcare providers involved in their care. Our review article focuses on these various aspects of colon cancer survivorship, including surveillance for cancer recurrence specific to those who received adjuvant chemotherapy with curative intent.

Exploring the implications of modified advanced lung cancer inflammation index on outcomes in patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer

Aim

Sarcopenia and skeletal muscle density (SMD) have been shown to be both predictive and prognostic marker in oncology. Advanced lung cancer inflammation index (ALI) has been shown to predict overall survival (OS) in small cell lung cancer (SCLC). Computed tomography (CT) enables skeletal muscle to be quantified, whereas body mass index (BMI) cannot accurately reflect body composition. The purpose was to evaluate the prognostic value of modified ALI (mALI) using CT-determined third lumbar vertebra (L3) muscle index beyond original ALI and see the interaction between sarcopenia, SMD, neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), ALI and mALI at baseline and post 4 cycles of chemotherapy and their effects on OS and progress free survival (PFS) in patients with advanced non-SCLC (NSCLC).

Methods

This retrospective study consisted of a total of 285 advanced NSCLC patients. The morphometric parameters such as SMD, skeletal muscle index (SMI) and fat-free mass (FFM) were measured by CT at the L3 vertebra. ALI was defined as BMI × serum albumin/NLR and mALI was defined as SMI × serum albumin/NLR.

Results

Sarcopenia was observed in over 70% of patients across all BMI categories. Patients having sarcopenia suffered from a higher incidence of chemotherapeutic drug toxicities but this was not found to be statistically significant. Concordance was seen between ALI and mALI in the pre-treatment setting and this was statistically significant. A significant proportion of patients with poor ALI (90.9%), poor pre-chemotherapy mALI (91.3%) and poor post-chemotherapy mALI (89%) had poor NLR and each of them was statistically significant.

Conclusions

In both univariate and multivariate analyses, this study demonstrated the statistical significance of sarcopenia, SMD, and mALI as predictive factors for OS. Additionally, sarcopenia and SMD were also found to be statistically significant factors in predicting PFS. These biomarkers could potentially help triage patients for active nutritional intervention for better outcomes.

Visceral obesity and anastomotic leakage rates in colorectal cancer: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Background

Numberous studies have heatedly discussed whether obesity is a risk factor for anastomotic leakage (AL) because of the increasing number of colorectal cancer (CRC) cases and high incidence of CRC in patients with obesity.

Objective

We aimed to explore the relationship between visceral obesity(VO) and AL after CRC surgery. The databases of Pubmed, Embase, and the Cochrane Library were searched for relevant data and articles published until November 1, 2022. We identified the difference in the incidence of AL after CRC surgery between patients with and without VO. The quality of included studies was evaluated using the Newcastle- Ottawa Scale, and odds ratio (OR) and 95% CI were used to assess the association between VO and AL.

Results

This meta-analysis included 7 studies with 2,136 patients. The OR of patients with VO versus those without VO was 2.15 (95%CIs = 1.46-3.15, test for heterogeneity: P = 0.29, I2 = 18%) based on the fixed-effect model in seven studies. Notably, the difference between the two groups was statistically significant (Z = 3.91 P < 0.0001). Patients with VO in the colon cancer group exhibited a higher incidence of AL (OR = 2.88, 95% CIs = 1.38-5.99, test for heterogeneity: P = 0.27, I2 = 20%) than those in the rectal cancer group (OR = 2.74, 95% CIs = 1.13-6.65, test for heterogeneity: P = 0.20, I2 = 38%). In the studies in the relevant literature, heterogeneity was low. Regarding patients with VO, four Asian studies reported increased morbidity due to AL (OR = 2.79, 95% CIs = 1.35-5.78, test for heterogeneity: P = 0.35, I2 = 9%) compared with three non-Asian studies.

Conclusions

Our findings confirmed the significant relationship between VO and AL. Thus, VO could be considered a reliable risk factor of surgery for colon cancer.

Malnutrition and visceral obesity predicted adverse short-term and long-term outcomes in patients undergoing proctectomy for rectal cancer

BACKGROUND

To the best of our knowledge, no previous studies have explored the relationship between visceral obesity and malnutrition. Therefore, this study has aimed to investigate the association between them in patients with rectal cancer.

METHODS

Patients with rectal cancer who underwent proctectomy were included. Malnutrition was defined according to the Global Leadership Initiative on Malnutrition (GLIM). Visceral obesity was measured using computed tomography (CT). The patients were classified into four groups according to the presence of malnutrition or visceral obesity. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed to evaluate risk factors for postoperative complications. Univariate and multivariate cox regression analyses were performed to evaluate the risk factors for overall survival (OS) and cancer-specific survival (CSS). Kaplan-Meier survival curves and log-rank tests were performed for the four groups.

RESULTS

This study enrolled 624 patients. 204 (32.7%) patients were included in the well-nourished non-visceral obesity (WN) group, 264 (42.3%) patients were included in the well-nourished visceral obesity (WO) group, 114 (18.3%) patients were included in the malnourished non-visceral obesity (MN) group, and 42 (6.7%) patients were included in the malnourished visceral obesity (MO) group. In the multivariate logistic regression analysis, the Charlson comorbidity index (CCI), MN, and MO were associated with postoperative complications. In the multivariate cox regression analysis, age, American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) score, tumor differentiation, tumor node metastasis (TNM), and MO were associated with worsened OS and CSS.

CONCLUSIONS

This study demonstrated that the combination of visceral obesity and malnutrition resulted in higher postoperative complication and mortality rates and was a good indicator of poor prognosis in patients with rectal cancer.

Adipose Tissue Distribution and Body Mass Index (BMI) Correlation With Daily Image-Guided Radiotherapy (IGRT) Shifts of Abdominal Radiation Therapy Patients

Purpose There are several studies suggesting a correlation between image-guided radiotherapy (IGRT) setup errors and body mass index (BMI). However, abdominal fat content has visceral and subcutaneous components, which may affect setup errors differently. This study aims to analyze a potential workflow for characterizing adipose content and distribution in the region of the target that would allow a quickly calculated metric of abdominal fat content to stratify these patients. Methods IGRT shift data was retrospectively tabulated from daily fan-beam CT-on-rails pre-treatment alignment for 50 abdominal radiation therapy (RT) patients, and systematic and random errors in the daily setup were characterized by tabulating average and standard deviations of shift data for each patient and looking at differences for different distributions of adipose content. Visceral and subcutaneous fat content were defined by visceral fat area (VFA) and subcutaneous fat area (SFA) using a region-growing algorithm to contour adipose tissue on CT simulation scans. All contours were created for a single slice at the treatment isocenter, on which the VFA and SFA were calculated. A log-rank test was used to test trends in shifts over quartiles of adiposity. Results VFA ranged from 1.9-342.8c m², and SFA from 11.8-756.0 cm². The standard definition (SD) of random error (σ) in the lateral axis for Q1 vs. Q4 VFA was 0.10cm vs. 0.29cm, 0.12cm vs. 0.28cm for SFA, and 0.12cm vs. 0.31cm for BMI. The percentage of longitudinal shifts greater than 10mm for Q1 vs. Q4 VFA was 0% vs. 9%, 2% vs. 19% for SFA, and 0% vs. 20% for BMI. Statistically significant trends in shifts vs. the BMI quartile were seen for both pitch and the longitudinal direction, as well as for pitch corrections vs. the VFA quartile. Conclusion Within this dataset, abdominal cancer patients showed statistically significant trends in shift probability vs. BMI and VFA. Also, patients in the upper quartiles of all adiposity metrics showed an increased SD of σ in the lateral direction and increased shifts over 10 mm in the longitudinal direction. However, despite these relationships, neither VFA nor SFA offered discernible advantages in their relationship to shift uncertainty relative to BMI.

Adipose tissue area is a predictive biomarker for the efficacy of pegylated liposomal doxorubicin in platinum-refractory/resistant ovarian cancer

BACKGROUND

Pegylated liposomal doxorubicin (PLD), an anthracycline agent, is widely used as a treatment option for platinum-refractory/resistant epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC). Although only a subset of patients with platinum-refractory/resistant EOC derive benefit from PLD, predictive biomarkers for patients who will respond to the drug have not yet been established. Here, we evaluated the relationship between adipose tissue status and PLD efficacy in patients with platinum-refractory/resistant EOC.

METHODS

Patients with platinum-refractory/resistant EOC who were treated with single-agent PLD were included in this retrospective cohort study. Adipose tissue areas including visceral adipose tissue area (VATA), subcutaneous adipose tissue area (SATA), and visceral to subcutaneous adipose tissue area ratio (VSR) were calculated prior to the initiation of PLD using computed tomography images. The associations of adipose tissue areas with objective response rate (ORR) and patient survival were evaluated.

RESULTS

Forty-four patients with platinum-refractory/resistant EOC who received single-agent PLD were included. Subjects were categorized into high and low groups according to the median VATA, SATA, and VSR values, and body mass index (BMI). The ORR of PLD was significantly lower in the VSR-high group than in the VSR-low group (p = 0.0089). Patients in the high VSR group showed significantly shorter progression-free survival (PFS) compared with patients in the low VSR group (median, 4.0 vs. 8.5 months; p = 0.020). In the multivariable analysis, high VSR was a significant prognostic factor for shorter PFS (hazard ratio, 2.07; 95% confidence interval, 1.05-4.19; p = 0.035). VATA, SATA, and BMI showed no significant association with ORR and survival of patients who received PLD.

CONCLUSIONS

High VSR is associated with lower ORR and shorter PFS in patients with platinum-refractory/resistant EOC who received single-agent PLD. VSR is a robust predictive biomarker for the efficacy of PLD.

Intra-abdominal fat volume estimation by multi-detector rows computed tomography: relevance in surgical fellowship training program in Shanghai: a retrospective study

Background

Intra-abdominal fat volume (IFV) has been shown to have a negative impact on surgical outcomes in gastric cancer (GC) and other gastrointestinal surgeries. The purpose of this study is to look into the relationship between IFV and perioperative outcomes in GC patients using multi-detector rows computed tomography (MDCT) and assess the importance of implementing this observation in current surgical fellowship training programs.

Methods

Patients with GC who underwent open D2 gastrectomy between May 2015 and September 2017 were included in the study. Based on MDCT estimation, patients were divided into high IFV (IFV ≥ 3,000 ml) and low IFV (IFV < 3,000 ml) groups. Perioperative outcomes for cancer staging, type of gastrectomy, intraoperative blood loss (IBL), anastomotic leakage, and hospital stay were compared between the two groups. This study was registered as CTR2200059886.

Results

Out of 226 patients, 54 had early gastric carcinoma (EGC), while 172 had advanced gastric carcinoma (AGC). There were 64 patients in the high IFV group and 162 in the low IFV group. The high IFV group had significantly higher IBL mean values (p = 0.008). Therefore, having a high IFV was a risk factor for the occurrence of perioperative complications (p = 0.008).

Conclusions

High IFV estimated by MDCT prior to GC surgery was associated with increased IBL and postoperative complications. Incorporating this CT-IFV estimation into surgical fellowship programs may aid aspiring surgeons in selecting patients during independent practice in their learning curve and surgical practice for the most appropriate approach for treating GC patients.

Excess visceral fat area as an independent risk factor for early postoperative complications in patients with obesity undergoing bariatric surgery

BACKGROUND

Few studies have investigated the correlation between visceral fat area (VFA) and early postoperative complications in patients with obesity undergoing bariatric surgery. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between VFA and early postoperative complications in patients with obesity following bariatric surgery.

METHODS

The study was conducted at a tertiary university hospital. Patients with obesity who underwent laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy between June 2016 and October 2020 were divided into two groups based on umbilical level VFA: high-VFA group (umbilical level VFA ≥ 100 cm²) and low-VFA group (umbilical level VFA < 100 cm²). Baseline characteristics, intraoperative and postoperative conditions, and early postoperative complications were compared between the groups. The primary outcome was early postoperative complications, and the secondary outcome was postoperative hospital stay.

RESULTS

The study included 152 patients, with 82 patients in the low-VFA group and 70 patients in the high-VFA group. The high-VFA group had a higher incidence of early postoperative complications (14.29% vs. 2.44%, P = 0.013) than the low-VFA group. The length of postoperative hospital stay did not differ significantly between the groups.

CONCLUSIONS

Our study suggests that excess VFA is an independent risk factor for early postoperative complications following bariatric surgery, and VFA may be used in preoperative evaluations.

The prognostic impact of BMI on colorectal cancer is stratified by tumor location

Purpose

Recent studies have revealed the contrasting prognostic roles of body mass index (BMI) and tumor location in colorectal cancer (CRC). Given that right- and left-sided CRC may exhibit inverse effects on outcome and body weight, the present study aimed to examine whether the prognostic value of BMI and tumor location could be reciprocally stratified.

Methods

This prospective, observational study recruited 4,086 patients diagnosed with stage III CRC from five independent clinical centers in China. The association of patients’ outcomes with BMI and tumor location was evaluated hierarchically by Kaplan–Meier and Cox proportional-hazards models.

Results

Although BMI was not associated with overall outcome, the association was significantly modified by tumor location. Among left-sided tumors, obesity and overweight were significantly associated with adverse overall survival (OS) and disease-specific survival (DSS). In contrast, among right-sided tumors, overweight was significantly associated with more favorable OS and DSS compared with the normal-weight group. The association of survival with tumor location did not reach statistical significance. However, hierarchical analysis by BMI revealed that left-sided tumors were associated with more favorable outcomes in the normal-weight group, while there was no statistically significant difference in the overweight or obese group.

Conclusions

BMI and tumor location may have opposing effects on CRC prognosis, when stratified by each other, after adjusting for other known prognostic factors. These findings are the first to show the interactive prognostic impact of BMI and tumor location, which could be relevant to the stratification of patient management.

Adiposity and cancer survival: a systematic review and meta-analysis

PURPOSE

The increasing availability of clinical imaging tests (especially CT and MRI) that directly quantify adipose tissue has led to a rapid increase in studies examining the relationship of visceral, subcutaneous, and overall adiposity to cancer survival. To summarize this emerging body of literature, we conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of imaging-measured as well as anthropometric proxies for adipose tissue distribution and cancer survival across a wide range of cancer types.

METHODS

Using keywords related to adiposity, cancer, and survival, we conducted a systematic search of the literature in PubMed and MEDLINE, Embase, and Web of Science Core Collection databases from database inception to 30 June 2021. We used a random-effect method to calculate pooled hazard ratios (HR) and corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CI) within each cancer type and tested for heterogeneity using Cochran's Q test and the I2 test.

RESULTS

We included 203 records for this review, of which 128 records were utilized for quantitative analysis among 10 cancer types: breast, colorectal, gastroesophageal, head and neck, hepatocellular carcinoma, lung, ovarian, pancreatic, prostate, and renal cancer. We found that imaging-measured visceral, subcutaneous, and total adiposity were not significantly associated with increased risk of overall mortality, death from primary cancer, or cancer progression among patients diagnosed with these 10 cancer types; however, we found significant or high heterogeneity for many cancer types. For example, heterogeneity was similarly high when the pooled HRs (95% CI) for overall mortality associated with visceral adiposity were essentially null as in 1.03 (0.55, 1.92; I2 = 58%) for breast, 0.99 (0.81, 1.21; I2 = 71%) for colorectal, versus when they demonstrated a potential increased risk 1.17 (0.85, 1.60; I2 = 78%) for hepatocellular carcinoma and 1.62 (0.90, 2.95; I2 = 84%) for renal cancer.

CONCLUSION

Greater adiposity at diagnosis (directly measured by imaging) is not associated with worse survival among cancer survivors. However, heterogeneity and other potential limitations were noted across studies, suggesting differences in study design and adiposity measurement approaches, making interpretation of meta-analyses challenging. Future work to standardize imaging measurements and data analyses will strengthen research on the role of adiposity in cancer survival.

Obesity may not be related to pathologic response in locally advanced rectal cancer following neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy

Background

The aim of this study is to evaluate the correlation between body mass index (BMI) and body fat composition (measured with radiological fat parameters (RFP)) and pathological response after neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy for locally advanced rectal cancer patients. The secondary aim of the study was to assess the role of BMI and RFP on major surgical complications, overall survival (OS), and disease-free survival (DFS).

Methods

All patients who underwent surgical resection following nCRT between 2005 and 2017 for mid-low rectal cancer were retrospectively collected. Visceral fat area (VFA), superficial fat area (SFA), visceral/superficial fat area ratio (V/S), perinephric fat thickness (PNF), and waist circumference (WC) were estimated by baseline CT scan. Predictors of pathologic response and postoperative complications were investigated using logistic regression analysis. The correlations between BMI and radiologic fat parameters and survival were investigated using the Kaplan-Meier method and log-rank test.

Results

Out of 144 patients included, a complete (TRG1) and major (TRG1+2) pathologic response was reported in 32 (22%) and 60 (45.5%) cases, respectively. A statistically significant correlation between BMI and all the RFP was found. At a median follow-up of 60 (35-103) months, no differences in terms of OS and DFS were found considering BMI and radiologic fat parameters. At univariable analysis, neither BMI nor radiologic fat parameters were predictors of complete or major pathologic response; nevertheless, VFA, V/S>1, and BMI were predictors of postoperative major complications.

Conclusions

We found no associations between BMI and body fat composition and pathological response to nCRT, although VFA, V/S, and BMI were predictors of major complications. BMI and RFP are not related to worse long-term OS and DFS.

Do body composition parameters correlate with response to targeted therapy in ER+/HER2- metastatic breast cancer patients? Role of sarcopenia and obesity

Purpose

To investigate the association between body composition parameters, sarcopenia, obesity and prognosis in patients with metastatic ER+/HER2- breast cancer under therapy with cyclin-dependent kinase (CDK) 4/6 inhibitors.

Methods

92 patients with biopsy-proven metastatic ER+/HER2- breast cancer, treated with CDK 4/6 inhibitors between 2018 and 2021 at our center, were included in this retrospective analysis. Visceral Adipose Tissue (VAT), Subcutaneous Adipose Tissue (SAT) and Skeletal Muscle Index (SMI) were measured before starting therapy with CDK 4/6 inhibitors (Palbociclib, Abemaciclib or Ribociclib). Measurements were performed on a computed tomography-derived abdominal image at third lumbar vertebra (L3) level by an automatic dedicated software (Quantib body composition^®, Rotterdam, Netherlands). Visceral obesity was defined as a VAT area > 130 cm². Sarcopenia was defined as SMI < 40 cm²/m². Changes in breast lesion size were evaluated after 6 months of treatment. Response to therapy was assessed according to RECIST 1.1 criteria. Spearman’s correlation and χ² analyses were performed.

Results

Out of 92 patients, 30 were included in the evaluation. Of the 30 patients (mean age 53 ± 12 years), 7 patients were sarcopenic, 16 were obese, while 7 patients were neither sarcopenic nor obese. Statistical analyses showed that good response to therapy was correlated to higher SMI values (p < 0.001), higher VAT values (p = 0.008) and obesity (p = 0.007); poor response to therapy was correlated to sarcopenia (p < 0.001). Moreover, there was a significant association between sarcopenia and menopause (p = 0.021) and between sarcopenia and the persistence of axillary lymphadenopathies after treatment (p = 0.003), while the disappearance of axillary lymphadenopathies was associated with obesity (p = 0.028).

Conclusions

There is a growing interest in body composition, especially in the field of breast cancer. Our results showed an interesting correlation between sarcopenia and progression of disease, and demonstrated that VAT can positively influence the response to targeted therapy with CDK 4/6 inhibitors. Larger-scale studies are needed to confirm these preliminary results.

Clinical Relevance

Sarcopenia and obesity seem to predict negative outcomes in many oncologic entities. Their prevalence and impact in current breast cancer care are promising but still controversial.

The Association Between Visceral Obesity and Postoperative Outcomes in Elderly Patients With Colorectal Cancer

Background

The impact of visceral obesity on the postoperative complications of colorectal cancer in elderly patients has not been well studied. This study aims to explore the influence of visceral obesity on surgical outcomes in elderly patients who have accepted a radical surgery for colorectal cancer.

Methods

Patients aged over 65 year who had undergone colorectal cancer resections from January 2015 to September 2020 were enrolled. Visceral obesity is typically evaluated based on visceral fat area (VFA) which is measured by computed tomography (CT) imaging. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to analyze parameters related to short-term outcomes.

Results

A total of 528 patients participated in this prospective study. Patients with visceral obesity exhibited the higher incidence of total (34.1% vs. 18.0%, P &lt; 0.001), surgical (26.1% vs. 14.6%, P = 0.001) and medical (12.6% vs. 6.7%, P = 0.022) complications. Based on multivariate analysis, visceral obesity and preoperative poorly controlled hypoalbuminemia were considered as independent risk factors for postoperative complications in elderly patients after colorectal cancer surgery.

Conclusions

Visceral obesity, evaluated by VFA, was a crucial clinical predictor of short-term outcomes after colorectal cancer surgery in elderly patients. More attentions should be paid to these elderly patients before surgery.

Cancer, Phase Angle and Sarcopenia: The Role of Diet in Connection with Lung Cancer Prognosis

Lung cancer is the most common cause of cancer death and is associated with malnutrition and sarcopenia. The detection of sarcopenia and conduction of simple body composition measurements, such as the phase angle (PhA) deriving from bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA), can help to early identify, monitor, prevent and treat malnutrition. The present review aims to clarify the relationship between PhA and sarcopenia with the pathophysiology, clinical outcomes, and therapeutic aspects of lung cancer. PhA and sarcopenia are connected to lung cancer prognosis through various mechanisms including inflammation and oxidative stress, although more research is needed to identify the critical thresholds for increased mortality risk. Moreover, emphasis is given on the role of dietary interventions (oral nutritional supplementation, and dietary counseling) to manage sarcopenia and related variables in patients with lung cancer. Oral nutritional supplements and/or those containing n - 3 polyunsaturated fatty acids may have a positive effect on physical strength measures and muscle mass if administered at the beginning of chemotherapy. Data on sole dietary counseling or multimodal interventions are less promising so far. In the future, sophisticated body composition phenotypes deriving from the described methods along with artificial intelligence techniques could be used to design personalized nutrition interventions and timely treat these patients.

Role of Perirectal Fat in the Carcinogenesis and Development of Early-Onset Rectal Cancer

Purpose

The incidence of early-onset rectal cancer (EORC) has been increasing since the past decade, while its underlying cause remained unknown. This study was aimed at clarifying the relationship between perirectal fat area (PFA) and EORC. Patients and Methods. All patients with rectal cancer who received radical excision between January 2016 and December 2017 at our hospital were included. The fat series images of pelvic magnetic resonance imaging scans were obtained and PFA at the ischial spine level was calculated using the ImageJ software.

Results

A total of 303 patients were finally included and divided into two groups according to the median PFA: Group 1 (<20.2 cm², n = 151) and Group 2 (≥20.2 cm², n = 152). PFA positively correlated with body weight and body mass index. PFA increased with invasion depth, lymph node metastasis, TNM stage, tumor deposits, and vascular invasion. Patients with EORC had higher PFA than those with late-onset rectal cancer (LORC; P = 0.009). Among patients with stage I–III rectal cancers, those in Group 2 had significantly shorter disease-free survival (P = 0.010) and overall survival (P = 0.034) than those in Group 1, and PFA was an independent predictor of disease-free survival (OR: 1.683 [1.126-3.015], P = 0.035) and overall survival (OR: 1.678 [1.022-2.639], P = 0.046).

Conclusions

Patients with EORC had significantly higher PFA than those with LORC. PFA is positively correlated with T stage, N stage, TNM stage, tumor deposit, and vascular invasion and is an independent predictor of disease-free survival and overall survival. Therefore, perirectal fat may be involved in the carcinogenesis and development of EORC.

Preoperative Muscle-Adipose Index: A New Prognostic Factor for Gastric Cancer

BACKGROUND

Studies have shown that traditional nutrition indicators and body composition indicators are closely related to prognosis after radical gastric cancer (GC) surgery. However, the effect of the combined muscle and adipose composite on the prognosis of GC has not been reported.

METHODS

The clinicopathological data of 514 patients with GC were retrospectively analyzed. The skeletal muscle adipose tissue were measured by preoperative CT images to obtain the muscle index and adipose index. X-tile software was used to determine the diagnostic threshold of muscle-adipose imbalance.

RESULTS

The 5-year OS and RFS of the muscle-adipose imbalanced group were significantly worse than those of the balanced group. Multivariate analysis showed that muscle-adipose imbalance and the CONUT score were independent prognostic factors of OS and RFS (p < 0.05). The nuclear density curve showed that the recurrence risk of the muscle-adipose imbalanced group was higher than that of the balanced group, whereas the nuclear density curve of the CONUT score was confounded. Incorporating the muscle-adipose index into cTNM has the same prognostic performance as the pTNM staging system. Chemotherapy-benefit analysis showed that stage II/III patients in the muscle-adipose balanced group could benefit from adjuvant chemotherapy.

CONCLUSIONS

The preoperative muscle-adipose index discovered for the first time is a new independent prognostic factor that affects the prognosis with GC. In addition, the preoperative muscle-adipose index is better than traditional nutrition and body composition indicators in terms of the prognostic evaluation of GC patients and the predictive value of recurrence risk.

Effect of Body Composition Change during Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy for Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma

Effects of changes in body composition during neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) on perioperative complications and prognosis are unknown in patients with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC). A total of 175 patients who underwent surgery for ESCC in our hospital between 2016 and 2019 were examined. The psoas muscle index (PMI) was calculated from the total psoas muscle area, and the visceral fat mass (VFM) at the umbilical level was measured. We defined body composition change (BCC) group as those with increased VFM of ≥ 3% and decreased PMI of ≥ 3% during NAC. Sarcopenia (S) was defined as PMI < 5.89 (male) and <4.06 (female). Nutritional assessment using the Subjective Global Assessment tool was performed upon admission. The percentages of BCC group, pre-NAC S, and post-NAC S was 32.5%, 79.4%, and 80.0%, respectively. BCC group had significantly more postoperative complications (p < 0.01) and longer hospital stays (p = 0.03) than groups pre-NAC S and post-NAC S. Overall survival (OS) analysis using the Cox hazard model showed that stage III (p < 0.01) and post-NAC S (p = 0.03) were poor prognostic factors. Changes in body composition during NAC affected perioperative complications and prognosis of patients with ESCC.

Cancer-Related Malnutrition: Epidemiological Results from the Latin American Study of Malnutrition in the Oncology Practice

Malnutrition can affect the patient diagnosed with, and treated for, cancer. However, until a dedicated study is completed, estimates of malnutrition rates will be disparate and unrepresentative of cancer patients' nutritional reality. Objective: To estimate the prevalence of malnutrition among patients being cared for cancer in Latin American (LATAM) hospitals by means of a multicenter, multinational study. Methods: The Latin American Study of Malnutrition in Oncology (LASOMO) was completed with 1,842 patients (Women: 56.2%; Age ≥ 60 years: 43.2%; Chemotherapy: 55.1%; Radiotherapy: 17.8%; Surgery: 27.1%) assisted at 52 health centers from 10 LATAM countries. Malnutrition prevalence was estimated from the (B + C) scores assigned to the patient with the Subjective Global Assessment by Detsky et al. (1987). Malnutrition prevalence was distributed regarding the demographic features of the patient, the primary tumor location, and the current cytoreducing treatment. Results: Malnutrition affected 59.1% of the surveyed patients. Malnutrition prevalence was higher among male patients and those with tumors of the digestive tract and the hemolymphopoietic system. Malnutrition was also associated with the current cytoreducing modality, with chemotherapy returning the highest prevalence. Conclusions: Malnutrition can be present in more than half of the patients being cared for cancer in LATAM health centers.

Supplemental data for this article is available online at https://doi.org/10.1080/01635581.2021.2014902.

CT-based assessment of body composition and skeletal muscle in melanoma: A systematic review

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES

Sarcopenia (low skeletal muscle index) and myosteatosis (low skeletal radiodensity) have been associated with poor outcomes in melanoma. This systematic review was performed to summarize and critically evaluate current literature surrounding body composition in melanoma.

METHODS

MEDLINE and Embase databases were searched for studies of melanoma patients with computed tomography (CT) based body composition analysis from 2000 to 2020. Outcomes of interest were survival, including overall survival (OS), progression-free survival (PFS), and disease-free survival (DFS), as well as treatment-related adverse events (AEs).

RESULTS

Nine studies of 914 patients were included in the final review. The majority of studies were of metastatic melanoma patients treated with immunotherapy. Studies demonstrated a variety of CT analysis techniques and cut-offs to define sarcopenia and myosteatosis. Associations of sarcopenia or myosteatosis with survival (OS, PFS, DFS) or risk of treatment-related AEs were conflicting. Multiple studies had low quality of evidence due to small sample sizes, use of non-validated CT measures, and lack of multivariable analyses.

CONCLUSIONS

Due to methodologic heterogeneity and low quality of evidence, impacts of CT-derived body composition parameters on outcomes in melanoma are unclear. Further research should be conducted to elucidate impacts of body composition in melanoma.

Body Composition Changes in Hepatocellular Carcinoma: Prediction of Survival to Transcatheter Arterial Chemoembolization in Combination With Clinical Prognostic Factors

Treatment-related toxicities and decreased levels of patient performance during cancer therapy might contribute to body composition changes (BCC) and thereby impact outcomes. This study investigated the association between BCC during transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) and outcome in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), and developed a nomogram for predicting survival in combination with clinical prognostic factors (CPF). Pretreatment and posttreatment computed tomography (CT) images of 75 patients with HCC who were treated between 2015 and 2018 were analyzed. The bone mineral density (BMD), cross-sectional area of paraspinal muscles (CSA_muscle), subcutaneous fat area (SFA), and visceral fat area (VFA) were measured from two sets of CT images. Count the changes in body composition during treatment and sort out the CPF of patients. Using cox regression models, CSA_muscle change, SFA change, VFA change, child-push class, and portal vein thrombosis were independent prognostic factors for overall survival (OS) (HR=5.932, 2.384, 3.140, 1.744, 1.794, respectively. P < 0.05). Receiver operating characteristic curves (ROCs) showed the prediction model combination of BCC and CPF exhibited the highest predictive performance (AUC=0.937). Independent prognostic factors were all contained into the prognostic nomogram, the concordance index (C-index) of prognostic nomogram was 0.787 (95% CI, 0.675−0.887). Decision curve analysis (DCA) demonstrated that the prognostic nomogram was clinically useful. Nomogram-based risk classification systems were also constructed to facilitate risk stratification in HCC for optimization of clinical management. In conclusion, we identified CSA_muscle change, SFA change, VFA change, Child-Pugh class, and portal vein thrombosis were independent prognostic factors for HCC. The prognostic nomogram with a combination of BCC and CPF that can be applied in the individualized prediction of survival in patients with HCC after TACE.

Body Composition, Inflammation, and 5-Year Outcomes in Colon Cancer

IMPORTANCE

Obesity, particularly visceral obesity and sarcopenia, are poor prognostic indicators in colon cancer.

OBJECTIVES

To explore the association between body composition profiles and 5-year colon cancer outcomes and delineate the associated underlying inflammatory processes.

DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS

This multicenter translational cohort study included patients with nonmetastatic colon cancer who did not have underlying chronic inflammatory disorders and were not receiving anti-inflammatory drugs referred to tertiary cancer centers from 2009 to 2015. Preoperative acute phase proteins (white cell count, C-reactive protein, and albumin), cytokines (interleukin [IL]-1b, IL-2, IL-6, IL-10, interferon γ, and tumor necrosis factor α), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), and cell surface receptor expression levels (CD11b and CD14) were measured. All patients underwent follow-up for at least 5 years. Data were analyzed in December 2020.

EXPOSURE

Nonmetastatic colon cancer.

MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES

The associations of body composition profiles with 5-year cancer recurrence and disease-specific mortality were analyzed using Mantel Cox log-rank test and Kaplan-Meier curves.

RESULTS

A total of 28 patients were included (median [interquartile range] age, 67 [58-72] years; 22 [78.6%] men). Low skeletal muscle area (SMA) and high visceral to total fat ratio were associated with poor clinical and oncological outcomes, including increased 5-year recurrence (low SMA: hazard ratio [HR], 2.30 [95% CI, 1.41-2.89]; P = .04; high visceral to total fat ratio: HR, 5.78 [95% CI, 3.66-7.95]; P = .02). High visceral to total fat ratio was associated with increased 5-year disease-specific mortality (HR, 5.92 [95% CI, 4.04-8.00]; P = .02). Patients with low SMA who developed a cancer recurrence, compared with those who did not, had higher C-reactive protein (mean [SD], 31.24 [6.95] mg/dL vs 8.11 [0.58] mg/dL; P = .003), IL-6 (mean [SD], 1.93 [1.16] ng/mL vs 0.88 [0.14] ng/mL; P = .004), VEGF (mean [SD], 310.03 [122.66] ng/mL vs 176.12 [22.94] ng/mL; P = .007), and CD14 (mean [SD], 521.23 [302.02] ng/mL vs 322.07 [98.35] ng/mL; P = .03) expression and lower albumin (mean [SD], 3.8 [0.6] g/dL vs 43.50 [3.69] g/dL; P = .01), IL-2 (mean [SD], 0.45 [0.25] ng/mL vs 0.94 [0.43] ng/mL; P < .001), IL-10 (mean [SD], 8.15 [1.09] ng/mL vs 16.32 [4.43] ng/mL; P = .004), and interferon γ (mean [SD], 2.61 [1.36] ng/mL vs 14.87 [3.43] ng/mL; P = .02) levels. Patients with high visceral to total fat ratio who developed recurrence had higher levels of IL-6 (mean [SD], 5.26 [7.05] ng/mL vs 2.76 [3.11] ng/mL; P = .03) and tumor necrosis factor α (mean [SD], 5.74 [4.53] ng/mL vs 4.50 [1.99] ng/mL; P = .03).

CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE

These findings suggest that low SMA and high visceral to total fat ratio were associated with worse colon cancer outcomes and with increased expression of proinflammatory cytokines and VEGF and inhibition of anti-inflammatory cytokines.

Correlation of Body Mass Index with Oncologic Outcomes in Colorectal Cancer Patients: A Large Population-Based Study

It has been acknowledged that excess body weight increases the risk of colorectal cancer (CRC); however, there is little evidence on the impact of body mass index (BMI) on CRC patients' long-term oncologic results in Asian populations. We studied the influence of BMI on overall survival (OS), disease-free survival (DFS), and CRC-specific survival rates in CRC patients from the administrative claims datasets of Taiwan using the Kaplan-Meier survival curves and the log-rank test to estimate the statistical differences among BMI groups. Underweight patients (<18.50 kg/m²) presented higher mortality (56.40%) and recurrence (5.34%) rates. Besides this, they had worse OS (aHR:1.61; 95% CI: 1.53-1.70; p-value: < 0.0001) and CRC-specific survival (aHR:1.52; 95% CI: 1.43-1.62; p-value: < 0.0001) rates compared with those of normal weight patients (18.50-24.99 kg/m²). On the contrary, CRC patients belonging to the overweight (25.00-29.99 kg/m²), class I obesity (30.00-34.99 kg/m²), and class II obesity (≥35.00 kg/m²) categories had better OS, DFS, and CRC-specific survival rates in the analysis than the patients in the normal weight category. Overweight patients consistently had the lowest mortality rate after a CRC diagnosis. The associations with being underweight may reflect a reverse causation. CRC patients should maintain a long-term healthy body weight.

Role of Baseline Computed-Tomography-Evaluated Body Composition in Predicting Outcome and Toxicity from First-Line Therapy in Advanced Gastric Cancer Patients

Sarcopenia is recognised as a predictor of toxicity and survival in localised and locally advanced gastric cancer (GC). Its prognostication power in advanced unresectable or metastatic GC (aGC) is debated. The survival impact of visceral and subcutaneous fat distribution (visceral fat area (VFA)/subcutaneous fat area (SFA)) is ambiguous. Our aim was to determine the influence of body composition parameters (BCp) on toxicity and survival in aGC patients undergoing palliative treatment. BCp were retrospectively assessed by baseline computed tomography for 78 aGC patients who received first-line chemotherapy from March 2010 to January 2017. Correlations between BCp and toxicity and survival were calculated by χ²-test and by log-rank-test and Cox-model, respectively. Sarcopenia fails to show association with progression-free survival (PFS) (p = 0.44) and overall survival (OS) (p = 0.88). However, sarcopenia influences the development of high-grade neutropenia (p = 0.048) and mucositis (p = 0.054). VFA/SFA (high vs. all the rest) results as a strong predictor of objective response (p = 0.02) and outcome (PFS, p = 0.001; OS, p = 0.02). At multivariate analysis for PFS, prognostic factors are VFA/SFA (p = 0.03) and a neutrophil–lymphocyte ratio >3. The same factors remain significant for OS (each p = 0.03) along with Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status (p = 0.008) and number of metastatic sites ≥2 (p < 0.001). In our cohort of aGC, VFA/SFA exhibit a robust impact on survival, with a higher sensitivity than sarcopenia.

Effect of Metabolic Syndrome and Individual Components on Colon Cancer Characteristics and Prognosis

Metabolic syndrome (MS) is recognized as a risk factor for colon cancer (CC). However, whether the cluster of metabolic changes that define MS also influence CC prognosis remains unclear. Thus, our aim was to investigate whether the presence of MS or any of the MS individual components could provide prognostic information on tumor phenotype and survival outcomes. Clinical and pathological data from patients with CC (n = 300) who underwent surgical resection at a single tertiary hospital were retrospectively collected to evaluate presence of MS components and diagnostic criteria, CC phenotype and disease outcomes. Patients were allocated into two groups according to the presence or absence of MS (n = 85 MS vs n = 83 non-MS). The overall prevalence of MS individual components was 82.7% for increased waist-circumference (WC), 61.3% for high blood pressure (BP), 48.8% for low HDL-cholesterol, 39.9% for high fasting glucose, and 33.9% for hypertriglyceridemia. Patients in the MS group presented smaller tumors (p = 0.006) with lower T-stage (p = 0.002). High BP (p = 0.029) and hypertriglyceridemia (p = 0.044) were associated with a smaller tumor size, while low-HDL (p = 0.008) was associated with lower T-stage. After propensity score matching using age, tumor size and staging as covariates high-BP (p = 0.020) and WC (p = 0.003) were found to influence disease-free survival, but not overall survival. In conclusion, despite MS being an established risk factor for CC, our data does not support the hypothesis that MS components have a negative impact on disease extension or prognosis. Nevertheless, a protective role of BP and lipid lowering drugs cannot be excluded.

Adipose Tissue Distribution Predicts Prognosis of Cirrhotic Patients Undergoing Hepatectomy for Hepatocellular Carcinoma

BACKGROUND

Body composition data are reportedly correlated with patient prognosis for various cancers. However, little is known about the prognostic impact of adipose tissue distribution among patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

METHODS

Data for 181 consecutive cirrhotic patients who underwent hepatectomy for HCC were retrospectively reviewed. The clinical significance of the visceral-to-subcutaneous adipose tissue ratio (VSR) was investigated through analysis of short- and long-term surgical outcomes.

RESULTS

Of the 181 patients, 60 (33%) were classified as the high-VSR group and 121 (67%) as the low-VSR group. Although VSR was not correlated with a risk of postoperative morbidity, multivariate analysis confirmed that a higher VSR was significantly correlated with a shorter time to interventional failure (hazard ratio [HR] 2.24; P = 0.008) and overall survival (HR 2.65; P = 0.001) independently of American Joint Committed on Cancer stage or preoperative nutritional status. Analysis of the recurrence patterns showed that the proportion of unresectable recurrence at the initial recurrence event was significantly higher in the high-VSR group (39% vs. 18%; P = 0.025). The yearly transition probabilities, defined by a Markov model from postoperative R0 status to advanced disease or death (7.6% vs. 1.5%, P < 0.001) and early recurrence stage to advanced disease or death (15.4% vs. 2.8%, P = 0.004), were higher in the high-VSR group, suggesting that patients with a higher VSR are vulnerable to disease progression.

CONCLUSION

A high VSR was found to be an independent predictor of disease progression and poor prognosis for HCC patients with underlying liver cirrhosis having resection for HCC.

Three different computed tomography obesity indices, two standard methods, and one novel measurement, and their association with outcomes after colorectal cancer surgery

BACKGROUND

Obesity can be measured by different indices, either as body mass index (BMI) or by more intuitive radiological measurements, and obesity has been shown to have an impact on outcome after colorectal cancer (CRC) surgery.

PURPOSE

To investigate whether the thickness of the subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT) in the abdominal wall can be used as a surrogate for the visceral fat area (VFA)-both measured on computed tomography (CT)-in prediction of short- and long-term outcomes after elective CRC surgery.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Preoperative CT scans of all patients having elective CRC surgery (stages I-III), in two consecutive years at a single-center institution, were used to measure the SAT (mm) and VFA (cm²). BMI was calculated for each patient. The three different obesity indices were used in different analyses in order to predict postoperative complications and overall survival.

RESULTS

A BMI >30 kg/m² was an independent prognostic factor in postoperative complications (odds ratio 3.2, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.43-7.03). SAT and VFA were not able to predict complications. Patients considered visceral obese according to a high VFA (>130 cm²) had poorer survival (hazard ratio 1.53, 95% CI 1.00-2.36) compared to non-obese patients, but in the adjusted model, VFA lost its predictive power. BMI and SAT were not able to predict mortality.

CONCLUSION

The novel measurement of the thickness of SAT in a preoperative setting before elective CRC surgery cannot predict either postoperative complications or overall survival; the other obesity indices had better predictive features.

Perirenal Fat Surface Area and Oncologic Outcome in Elective Colon Cancer Surgery

BACKGROUND

Central obesity is associated with surgical difficulties, but few studies explore the relationship with long-term results after colon cancer surgery.

OBJECTIVE

The purpose of this study was to investigate the association between perirenal fat surface area, a proxy for total visceral fat, and oncologic outcome after intestinal resection for colon cancer.

DESIGN

We investigated the association between perirenal fat surface area (exposure) on recurrence and death (outcome) in patients undergoing surgery with curative intent for colon cancer.

SETTINGS

The study was conducted at Stockholm South General Hospital, serving a population of 600,000.

PATIENTS

Patients (N = 733) without metastases at diagnosis who had a preoperative CT and had undergone elective colon resection between 2006 and 2016 were included.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

We compared overall survival, recurrence-free survival, and cause-specific survival by perirenal fat surface area.

RESULTS

Patients with high perirenal fat surface area (fourth quartile) had more often left-sided tumors (45% vs 32% in the first quartile) and experienced more postoperative complications (29% vs 13%), but there were no differences in pathologic T and N stage, radicality of surgery, or adjuvant chemotherapy treatment. Overall survival decreased by increasing cancer stage but was not different between perirenal fat surface area categories. The HR for recurrence-free survival per centimeter squared increase in perirenal fat surface area was 1.00 (95% CI, 0.99-1.01) adjusted for age, sex, ASA category, tumor location, and postoperative complication Clavien-Dindo ≥2. The cumulative incidence of recurrence with death as a competing risk was not statistically different between perirenal fat surface area categories (p = 0.06). Subgroup analyses showed a nonsignificant tendency for men with low perirenal fat surface area to have a lower risk of recurrence and women a higher risk.

LIMITATIONS

In all register-based studies there can be randomly distributed errors. The results can only be generalized to colon resections. Our cohort ranged over a large year span.

CONCLUSIONS

We found no association between perirenal fat surface area and overall survival, recurrence-free survival, or cause-specific cumulative incidence of recurrence in patients undergoing colon resection for cancer. See Video Abstract at http://links.lww.com/DCR/B326.

LA SUPERFICIE DE GRASA PERIRRENAL Y EL RESULTADO ONCOLGICO EN CIRUGA ELECTIVA DE CNCER DE COLON

ANTECEDENTES:La obesidad central está asociada con dificultades quirúrgicas, pero pocos estudios exploran la relación de los resultados a largo plazo después de cirugía de cáncer de colon.OBJETIVO:Investigar la asociación entre la superficie de la grasa perirrenal, como un indicador de la grasa visceral total y el resultado oncológico después de una resección intestinal por cáncer de colon.DISEÑO:Se estudió la asociación entre el área de la superficie de la grasa perirrenal (expuesta) con la recurrencia y la muerte (resultado) de pacientes sometidos a cirugía con intención curativa por cáncer de colon.AJUSTES:Atención brindada por el Hospital General del Sur de Estocolmo a una población de 600,000 habitantes.PACIENTES:Aquellos pacientes sin metástasis (n = 733) en el momento del diagnóstico que tuvieron una tomografía computada preoperatoria y que se sometieron a una resección electiva de colon entre 2006-2016.PRINCIPALES MEDIDAS DE RESULTADO:Comparamos la sobrevida general, la sobrevida libre de recurrencia y la sobrevida específica de la causa, por área de superficie de grasa perirrenal.RESULTADOS:Los pacientes con una mayor área de superficie de grasa perirrenal (cuarto cuartil) tuvieron más frecuentemente tumores del lado izquierdo (45% frente a 32% en el primer cuartil) y sufrieron más complicaciones postoperatorias (29% frente a 13%), pero no hubieron diferencias en el Estadío patológico T y N, ni en lo radical de la cirugía o del tratamiento de quimioterapia adyuvante. La supervivencia general disminuyó al aumentar el estadio del cáncer, pero no fue diferente entre las categorías de área de superficie grasa perirrenal. La razón de riesgo para la sobrevida libre de recurrencia por aumento de cm2 en el área de la superficie grasa perirrenal fue de 1.00 (intervalo de confianza del 95%: 0.99-1.01) ajustada por edad, sexo, categoría de la Sociedad Americana de Anestesiólogos, ubicación del tumor y complicación postoperatoria según Clavien-Dindo ≥ 2) La incidencia acumulada de recurrencia con muerte como un riesgo competitivo no fue estadísticamente diferente entre las categorías de área de superficie grasa perirrenal (p = 0.06). Los análisis de subgrupos mostraron una tendencia no significativa para que los hombres con un área de superficie menor en grasa perirrenal tengan un menor riesgo de recurrencia y las mujeres un mayor riesgo.LIMITACIONES:En todos los estudios basados en registros puede haber errores distribuidos aleatoriamente. Los resultados solo pueden generalizarse a resecciones de colon. Nuestra cohorte osciló durante un gran lapso de años.CONCLUSIONES:No se encontró asociación entre el área de superficie de la grasa perirrenal y la sobrevida general, ni con la sobrevida libre de recurrencia o la incidencia acumulada de recurrencia específica de la causa en pacientes sometidos a resección de colon por cáncer. Consulte Video Resumen en http://links.lww.com/DCR/B326. (Traducción-Dr Xavier Delgadillo).

Prognostic Potential of the Preoperative Controlling Nutritional Status (CONUT) Score in Predicting Survival of Patients with Cancer: A Systematic Review

The nutritional status of a patient has prognostic potency concerning short- and long-term outcomes, including survival, in many diseases. The controlling nutritional status (CONUT) score is a method for assessing nutritional status and predicting outcomes of several diseases. This study sought to systematically identify the prognostic role of preoperative CONUT score on posttreatment overall survival (OS), recurrence-free survival (RFS), and cancer-specific survival (CSS) in patients with cancer. The PubMed, SCOPUS, and Google Scholar databases and Google were searched for all dates until December 2019. Original articles investigating the association of preoperative CONUT score with survival in cancer patients who underwent surgery were included. Duplicate and irrelevant reports were screened out and the remaining articles assessed for quality and data extracted during critical analysis. Results of multivariate analysis were used to evaluate the prognostic competence of CONUT score in predicting survival. The search method identified an initial 181 articles, of which 32 were included in the final analysis. Lower OS, CSS, and RFS rates were reported by 100%, 100%, and 87.0% of the included studies, respectively, in cancer patients with high CONUT scores. A prognostic role of the CONUT score for prediction of OS, CSS, and RFS in cancer patients was shown by 91.7%, 90.9%, and 52.6% of the studies, respectively. The receiver operating characteristic curve area under the curve (AUC) value of the CONUT score for predicting OS, CSS, and RFS was at an acceptable level (>0.5) in all studies with available AUC values (n = 19). Sixty percent (12 of 20) of the studies reported that high CONUT score was significantly related to lower BMI. The findings promote confidence that a high preoperative CONUT score is associated with poor survival rate and is an independent prognostic factor of OS and CSS in patients with various types of cancer. Evaluation of the preoperative CONUT score might help clinicians in decision-making with respect to surgical implications.

Preoperative skeletal muscle index and visceral-to-subcutaneous fat area ratio are associated with long-term outcomes of elderly gastric cancer patients after gastrectomy

PURPOSE

Sarcopenia is a risk factor of severe surgical complications, short-term outcomes, and long-term outcomes for patients with gastric cancer. Several computed tomography (CT) measurements have been performed to diagnose sarcopenia. However, the optimal CT measurements for determining long-term outcomes have not been revealed.

METHODS

A retrospective review of gastric cancer patients with clinical stage I, II, or III who underwent gastrectomy at age 75 years or more at Shizuoka General Hospital from 2007 to 2015 was performed. Using preoperative CT, skeletal muscle index (SMI), total psoas area, intramuscular adipose tissue content in multifidus muscle, morphologic change of psoas muscle, and visceral-to-subcutaneous adipose tissue area ratio (VSR) were measured in the third lumbar section. A Cox regression analysis was used to explore prognostic factors for overall survival.

RESULTS

A total of 257 patients were reviewed. There were 171, 53, and 33 patients with clinical stages I, II, and III, respectively. A multivariate analysis indicated that, in addition to age, performance status, clinical stage, and types of resection, which are known prognostic factors, SMI and VSR are prognostic factors (p = 0.016, 0.046, respectively). The prognostic score, which was the frequency of positive SMI and VSR values within the cutoff, also indicates overall survival. The five-year OS rates of patients with prognostic scores of 0, 1, and 2 were 90.9%, 62.3%, and 52%, respectively (p < 0.001).

CONCLUSION

Preoperative SMI and VSR were prognostic factors for the overall survival of elderly patients with gastric cancer after gastrectomy.

Impact of body composition on clinical outcomes in people with gastric cancer undergoing radical gastrectomy after neoadjuvant treatment

OBJECTIVES

The influence of body composition on clinical outcomes in individuals with gastric cancer (GC) undergoing radical gastrectomy after neoadjuvant treatment (NT) remains unclear. The purpose of this retrospective study was to investigate the association between body composition before NT or after NT and clinical outcomes in individuals with GC receiving multimodal treatments.

METHODS

This retrospective study included individuals with GC who received NT followed by radical gastrectomy between January 2016 and December 2018. Skeletal muscle, visceral adipose tissue (VAT), and subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT) were measured by cross-sectional areas at the level of third lumbar vertebra based on single-slice computed tomography scan prior to NT and prior to the surgical operation. Sarcopenia, high VAT, and high SAT were defined using cutoff points of skeletal muscle index, visceral fat area, and subcutaneous fat area. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to evaluate risk factors of NT-related adverse events, postoperative complications and predictors of long-term survival.

RESULTS

A total of 110 individuals with GC were enrolled in this study. Sarcopenia was present in 62.7% of them before NT and in 56.4% after NT. Sarcopenia before NT was associated with more NT-related adverse events (odds ratio, 2.901; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.205-6.983; P = 0.018). High VAT after NT (≥106 cm²) was associated with an increasing incidence of postoperative complications (odds ratio, 4.261; 95% CI, 1.332-13.632; P = 0.015). No body-composition parameter was relevant to tumor pathologic response to NT. As for long-term survival, poor overall survival was associated with both low VAT before NT (<120 cm²; hazard ratio [HR], 2.542; 95% CI, 1.111-5.817; P = 0.027) and low SAT after NT (<99.5 cm²; HR, 2.743; 95% CI, 1.248-6.027; P = 0.012). Similarly, shorter disease-free survival was associated with low VAT before NT (<120 cm²; HR, 2.502; 95% CI, 1.222-5.124; P = 0.012) and low VAT after NT (<106 cm²; HR, 2.505; 95% CI, 1.172-5.358; P = 0.018).

CONCLUSIONS

Body composition measured by computed tomography could predict NT-related adverse events, postoperative complications, and long-term survival in multimodal treatments for GC. More meaningfully, adipose-tissue status has significant prognostic value for individuals with advanced GC.

The Prevalence of Sarcopenic Obesity in Postmenopausal Women with a History of Breast Cancer Depending on Adopted Methodology - A Case-Control Study

Introduction

Sarcopenic obesity (SO) is characterized as the cooccurrence of sarcopenia and obesity. It is associated with many adverse health consequences, also in oncological patients. The study aimed to assess the prevalence of SO in postmenopausal women with a history of breast cancer depending on adopted methodology.

Materials and Methods

The case–control study enrolled 103 women over the age of 50 with a history of breast cancer, including women who completed oncological treatment and had remained in remission for at least 5 years (group I, n=78) and women in whom the disease recurred (group II, n=25). The control group included women with no history of breast cancer (group III, n=73).

Results

In group II sarcopenia occurred significantly more commonly compared to both group I and the control group (for the skeletal muscle index (SMI) ≤29.20%: 13 (52%) in group II vs 16 (20.5%) in group I, p=0.004 and 3 (4.1%) in group III, p<0.001; for SMI ≤26.60%: 10 (40%) in group II vs 9 (11.5%) in group I, p=0.003 and 3 (4.1%) in group III, p<0.001; for SMI ≤33.87%: 17 (68%) in group II vs 21 (26.9%) in group I, p<0.001 and 5 (6.8%) in group III, p<0.001). Depending on the assessment criteria, SO was diagnosed in 0–11.5% of cases in group I, 0–40% of cases in group II and 0–4.1% in the control group. Intergroup differences were not statistically significant, irrespective of the adopted pair of diagnostic criteria. The highest detectability of SO was observed when SMI was combined with each of the diagnostic criteria for obesity used.

Discussion

SO diagnosis based on the percentage of fatty tissue mass in the body of >38% and SMI value were associated with a higher detection rate of SO in each study group, regardless of the adopted cut-off value. Similar results were obtained in each analyzed group when using the remaining diagnostic criteria for obesity and SMI value, regardless of the cut-off value.

Prognostic role of pre-sarcopenia and body composition with long-term outcomes in obstructive colorectal cancer: a retrospective cohort study

Background

The clinical significance of pre-sarcopenia in colorectal cancer obstruction has not yet been described. The present study aimed to determine the short- and long-term oncologic impacts of pre-sarcopenia in obstructive colorectal cancer.

Methods

We retrospectively analyzed 214 patients with obstructive colon cancer between January 2004 and December 2013. Initial staging computed tomography (CT) scans identified pre-sarcopenia and visceral obesity by measuring the muscle and visceral fat areas at the third lumbar vertebra level. Both short-term postoperative and long-term oncologic outcomes were analyzed.

Results

Among all 214 patients, 71 (33.2%) were diagnosed with pre-sarcopenia. Pre-sarcopenia had a negative oncologic impact in both disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS), (hazard ratio [HR] = 1.86, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.04–3.13, p = 0.037, and HR = 1.92, CI 1.02–3.60, p = 0.043, respectively). Visceral adiposity, body mass index (BMI), and neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) did not significantly impact DFS and OS.

Conclusion

Pre-sarcopenia is a clinical factor significantly associated with OS and DFS but not with short-term complications in obstructive colorectal cancer. In future, prospective studies should incorporate body composition data in patient risk assessments and oncologic prediction tools.

Dietary Fat and Cancer-Which Is Good, Which Is Bad, and the Body of Evidence

A high-fat diet (HFD) induces changes in gut microbiota leading to activation of pro-inflammatory pathways, and obesity, as a consequence of overnutrition, exacerbates inflammation, a known risk factor not only for cancer. However, experimental data showed that the composition of dietary fat has a greater impact on the pathogenesis of cancer than the total fat content in isocaloric diets. Similarly, human studies did not prove that a decrease in total fat intake is an effective strategy to combat cancer. Saturated fat has long been considered as harmful, but the current consensus is that moderate intake of saturated fatty acids (SFAs), including palmitic acid (PA), does not pose a health risk within a balanced diet. In regard to monounsaturated fat, plant sources are recommended. The consumption of plant monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFAs), particularly from olive oil, has been associated with lower cancer risk. Similarly, the replacement of animal MUFAs with plant MUFAs decreased cancer mortality. The impact of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) on cancer risk depends on the ratio between ω-6 and ω-3 PUFAs. In vivo data showed stimulatory effects of ω-6 PUFAs on tumour growth while ω-3 PUFAs were protective, but the results of human studies were not as promising as indicated in preclinical reports. As for trans FAs (TFAs), experimental data mostly showed opposite effects of industrially produced and natural TFAs, with the latter being protective against cancer progression, but human data are mixed, and no clear conclusion can be made. Further studies are warranted to establish the role of FAs in the control of cell growth in order to find an effective strategy for cancer prevention/treatment.

The Role of CT-Quantified Body Composition on Longitudinal Health-Related Quality of Life in Colorectal Cancer Patients: The Colocare Study

BACKGROUND

Obesity, defined by body mass index (BMI), measured at colorectal cancer (CRC) diagnosis has been associated with postoperative complications and survival outcomes. However, BMI does not allow for a differentiation between fat and muscle mass. Computed tomography (CT)-defined body composition more accurately reflects different types of tissue and their associations with health-related quality of life (HRQoL) during the first year of disease, but this has not been investigated yet. We studied the role of visceral and subcutaneous fat area (VFA and SFA) and skeletal muscle mass (SMM) on longitudinally assessed HRQoL in CRC patients.

METHODS

A total of 138 newly diagnosed CRC patients underwent CT scans at diagnosis and completed questionnaires prior to and six and twelve months post-surgery. We investigated the associations of VFA, SFA, and SMM with HRQoL at multiple time points.

RESULTS

A higher VFA was associated with increased pain six and twelve months post-surgery (β = 0.06, p = 0.04 and β = 0.07, p = 0.01) and with worse social functioning six months post-surgery (β = -0.08, p = 0.01). Higher SMM was associated with increased pain twelve months post-surgery (β = 1.03, p < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONS

CT-quantified body composition is associated with HRQoL scales post-surgery. Intervention strategies targeting a reduction in VFA and maintaining SMM might improve HRQoL in CRC patients during the first year post-surgery.

Is visceral obesity associated with colorectal cancer? The first volumetric study using all CT slices

PURPOSE

We aimed to examine the possible relationship between abdominal adiposity parameters and the presence of colorectal cancer (CRC) and between these adiposity parameters and various histopathologic findings of the tumor.

METHODS

A total of 60 control subjects and 111 CRC patients, 63 with early-stage and 48 with advanced-stage disease, were enrolled. Medical data and abdominopelvic computed tomography (CT) examinations of each study group were retrospectively reviewed. Abdominal adiposity parameters, including visceral adipose tissue (VAT) volume, subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT) volume, and total adipose tissue (TAT) volume, were calculated on all slices of the CT examinations with specialized software, and results for each study group were compared. Adiposity parameters were also compared with tumor histopathologic findings.

RESULTS

We found lower VAT and higher SAT volumes in advanced-stage CRC patients, compared with the early-stage group. However, this relationship was not statistically significant (P = 0.721 for VAT and P = 0.432 for SAT volumes). We detected significantly lower VAT and SAT volumes in the early-stage CRC group compared with the control group (P = 0.014 for both). There was no significant relationship between TAT volumes and the study groups (P = 0.06). No statistically significant relationship was detected between adipose tissue parameters and histopathologic features of the CRC group (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSION

We found statistically significant lower VAT and SAT volumes in patients with early-stage CRC compared with the control group. Volumetric adipose tissue measurements may be more accurate than area measurements and can easily be performed on abdominopelvic CT examination, which is the routine imaging modality for CRC patients.

Impact of adiposity on staging and prognosis of colorectal cancer

Abdominal visceral fat is a well-recognized a risk for colorectal cancer (CRC). In contrast to the risk for CRC, the impact of adiposity in disease staging and patient survival is less well-established. Our aim was to critically review the literature on the influence of adiposity assessed by different methods routinely used in clinical settings, on CRC staging and prognosis. In the 32 studies reviewed, overweight was initially identified as a survival advantage, an evidence that was later challenged by studies suggesting that body adiposity is likely to have a deleterious effect in CRC outcomes, particularly in males. Hence, whether obesity has a negative impact in CRC staging or prognosis remains controversial. In sum, addressing the impact of body fat in CRC biological behavior is still an unmet need. Understanding how adiposity influences CRC staging and prognosis could allow further patient risk stratification for devising targeted interventions and improve clinical outcomes.

Insulin resistance and body composition in cancer patients

Cancer cachexia, weight loss with altered body composition, is a multifactorial syndrome propagated by symptoms that impair caloric intake, tumor byproducts, chronic inflammation, altered metabolism, and hormonal abnormalities. Cachexia is associated with reduced performance status, decreased tolerance to chemotherapy, and increased mortality in cancer patients. Insulin resistance as a consequence of tumor byproducts, chronic inflammation, and endocrine dysfunction has been associated with weight loss in cancer patients. Insulin resistance in cancer patients is characterized by increased hepatic glucose production and gluconeogenesis, and unlike type 2 diabetes, normal fasting glucose with high, normal or low levels of insulin. Cancer cachexia results in altered body composition with the loss of lean muscle mass with or without the loss of adipose tissue. Alteration in visceral adiposity, accumulation of intramuscular adipose tissue, and secretion of adipocytokines from adipose cells may play a role in promoting the metabolic derangements associated with cachexia including a proinflammatory environment and insulin resistance. Increased production of ghrelin, testosterone deficiency, and low vitamin D levels may also contribute to altered metabolism of glucose. Cancer cachexia cannot be easily reversed by standard nutritional interventions and identifying and treating cachexia at the earliest stage of development is advocated. Experts advocate for multimodal therapy to address symptoms that impact caloric intake, reduce chronic inflammation, and treat metabolic and endocrine derangements, which propagate the loss of weight. Treatment of insulin resistance may be a critical component of multimodal therapy for cancer cachexia and more research is needed.

Measurements of adiposity as prognostic biomarkers for survival with anti-angiogenic treatment in epithelial ovarian cancer: An NRG Oncology/Gynecologic Oncology Group ancillary data analysis of GOG 218

OBJECTIVE

Adiposity has been hypothesized to interfere with the activity of bevacizumab (BEV), an anti-angiogenic agent. Measurements of adiposity, BMI, surface fat area (SFA), and visceral fat area (VFA) were investigated as prognostic of oncologic outcomes among patients treated with chemotherapy, with or without BEV, on GOG 218, a prospective phase III trial.

METHOD

Pretreatment computed tomography (CT) for 1538 GOG 218 participants were analyzed. Proportional hazards models assessed association between adiposity and overall survival (OS) adjusted for other prognostic factors. The predictive value of adiposity as a function of BEV treatment was assessed in 1019 patients randomized to either chemotherapy (CT) + placebo (P) → P or CT + BEV → BEV.

RESULTS

After adjusting for prognostic factors, SFA was not associated with the overall hazard of death (p = 0.981). There was a non-significant 0.1% (p = 0.062) increase in hazard of death associated with a unit increase in VFA. When comparing the treatment HRs for patients who did and did not receive BEV, there was no association with SFA (p = 0.890) or VFA (p = 0.106). A non-significant 0.8% increase in the hazard of death with unit increase in BMI (p = 0.086) was observed. BMI values were not predictive of a longer survival for patients with BEV vs placebo (p = 0.606).

CONCLUSION

Measures of adiposity strongly correlated to one another but were not predictive of efficacy for BEV. VFA is a weak prognostic factor.