Prognostic Significance of Skeletal Muscle Loss During Early Postoperative Period in Elderly Patients with Esophageal Cancer

Esophagectomy in the Older Adult: A Systematic Review

Current management of esophageal carcinoma (EC) involves combining different modalities, offering the opportunity of personalized strategies. This is particularly enticing in the geriatric population, where tailoring treatment modalities remains key to achieve good outcomes in terms of both quality of life and survival. Primary outcomes of our review included (1) evidence on short-term outcomes following esophagectomy, and (2) evidence on long-term outcomes following esophagectomy. Secondary review questions compared outcomes of (1) neoadjuvant treatment versus upfront surgery for locally advanced esophageal carcinoma, (2) endoscopic submucosal dissection versus esophagectomy for early esophageal carcinoma, and (3) definitive radiation with or without chemotherapy versus surgery. Twenty-six articles were included in the review for the main review questions. Our systematic review underscores the need for comprehensive geriatric evaluations to guide decision-making. Despite concerns about perioperative risks, well-selected older patients can derive survival benefits from surgical intervention.

Correlation between sarcopenia and esophageal cancer: a narrative review

BACKGROUND

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

METHODS

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

RESULTS

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

CONCLUSIONS

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

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

BACKGROUND

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

PATIENTS AND METHODS

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

RESULTS

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

CONCLUSIONS

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

Clinical impact of myosteatosis measured by magnetic resonance imaging on long-term outcomes of hepatocellular carcinoma after radical hepatectomy

AIMS

A variety of factors have been reported to affect long-term outcomes after radical resection of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, the indicators remain controversial. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the relationship between myosteatosis of the multifidus muscle and long-term outcomes after radical surgery for HCC.

METHODS

We retrospectively analyzed clinicopathological data for 187 patients with HCC who underwent radical surgery at Tokushima University between January 2009 and December 2020 and measured the density of fat in the multifidus muscle at L3 on their preoperative magnetic resonance images (MRI). Associations of myosteatosis and clinicopathological factors with long-term outcomes were evaluated.

RESULTS

The patients were divided into a myosteatosis-negative group (n = 122) and a myosteatosis-positive group (n = 65). The cancer-specific survival rate after hepatectomy was significantly worse in the myosteatosis-positive group than in the myosteatosis-negative group (p = 0.03). Univariate analysis identified multiple tumors, stage III/IV disease, an alfa-fetoprotein level ≥ 10 ng/ml, PIVKA-II ≥ 400 AU/ml, vp(+) status, and myosteatosis to be prognostic factors for cancer-specific survival. Multivariate analysis revealed multiple tumors, an alfa-fetoprotein level ≥ 10 ng/ml, and myosteatosis to be independent prognostic factors.

CONCLUSIONS

Myosteatosis measured by MRI is a simple and useful predictor of the long-term outcome after radical surgery for HCC.

Prognostic significance of circulating basophil counts in patients who underwent esophagectomy for esophageal cancer

PURPOSE

Recent reports have suggested that basophils influence allergic reactions and tumor immunity. In this study, we aimed to elucidate the association between preoperative circulating basophil (CB) counts and the outcomes of patients who underwent esophagectomy for esophageal cancer.

METHODS

A total of 783 consecutive patients who underwent esophagectomy for esophageal cancer were eligible. The clinicopathological factors and prognoses were compared between the groups stratified by the preoperative counts of CB.

RESULTS

There were more advanced clinical T and N stages in the low CB group than in the high CB group (P = 0.01 and = 0.04, respectively). The incidences of postoperative complications were comparable between the groups. The low CB count was associated with unfavorable overall and recurrence-free survivals (P = 0.04 and 0.01, respectively). In the multivariate analysis, low CB count was one of the independent prognostic factors for poor recurrence-free survival (HR 1.33; 95% CI 1.04-1.70; P = 0.02). In addition, hematogenous recurrence occurred more frequently in the low CB group than in the high CB group (57.6% vs. 41.4%, P = 0.04).

CONCLUSION

A preoperative low CB count was an unfavorable prognosticator in patients who underwent esophagectomy for esophageal cancer.

Impact of early postoperative factors on changes in skeletal muscle mass after esophagectomy in older patients with esophageal cancer

BACKGROUND

Loss of skeletal muscle mass, measured by the skeletal muscle mass index (SMI), after esophagectomy negatively impacts prognosis. However, the information to develop novel supportive care options for preventing loss of skeletal muscle mass is limited. The purpose of this retrospective cohort study was to investigate the impact of early postoperative factors on change in SMI 4 months after curative esophagectomy in older patients with esophageal cancer.

METHODS

This study included 113 subjects who underwent esophagectomy between 2015 and 2020. Preoperative and postoperative SMI (cm²/m²) were calculated from computed tomography images. The percentage change in SMI 4 months after surgery (SMI%) was calculated as follows: ([postoperative SMI - preoperative SMI] ÷ preoperative SMI) × 100. Potential factors affecting percentage change of SMI after surgery were analyzed by multiple regression.

RESULTS

The mean SMI% was - 5.6%. The percentage change (per 1%) in quadriceps muscle strength in the first month after surgery (standardized β = 0.190, p = 0.048) impacted the SMI%, which was independent of age, sex, preoperative SMI, comorbidity, pathological stage, and neoadjuvant chemotherapy.

CONCLUSION

Quadriceps muscle weakness in the first month after esophagectomy impacted the SMI% in a dose-dependent relationship.

The prognostic value of sarcopenia in oesophageal cancer: A systematic review and meta-analysis

The loss of skeletal muscle mass and function is defined as sarcopenia, which might develop in elderly patients with cancers. It has been indicated as a potential negative factor in the survival of patients with malignant tumours. The aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to evaluate the associations between sarcopenia and survival outcomes or postoperative complications in patients with oesophageal cancer (EC). Web of Science, Embase, Medline, and Cochrane Library databases were searched until 10 May 2022, using keywords: sarcopenia, oesophageal cancer, and prognosis. Studies investigating the prognostic value of sarcopenia on EC survival were included. Forest plots and summary effect models were used to show the result of this meta-analysis. The quality of included studies was evaluated with the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale (NOS). A total of 1436 studies were identified from the initial search of four databases, and 41 studies were included for the final quantitative analysis. This meta-analysis revealed a significant association between sarcopenia and overall survival (OS) [hazard ratios (HR):1.68, 95% confidence interval (CI):1.54-1.83, P = 0.004, I²  = 41.7%] or disease-free survival (DFS) 1.97 (HR: 1.97, 95% CI: 1.44-2.69, P = 0.007, I²  = 61.9%) of EC patients. Subgroup analysis showed that sarcopenia remained a consistent negative predictor of survival when stratified by different treatment methods, populations, or sarcopenia measurements. Sarcopenia was also a risk factor for postoperative complications with a pooled odds ratio of 1.47 (95% CI: 1.21-1.77, P = 0.094, I²  = 32.7%). The NOS scores of all included studies were ≥6, and the quality of the evidence was relatively high. The results from the study suggested that sarcopenia was significantly associated with both survival outcomes and postoperative complications in EC patients. Sarcopenia should be appropriately diagnosed and treated for improving short-term and long-term outcomes of patients with EC.

Robotic Esophagectomy Compared With Open Esophagectomy Reduces Sarcopenia within the First Postoperative Year: A Propensity Score-Matched Analysis

INTRODUCTION

Sarcopenia is a known risk factor for adverse outcomes after esophageal cancer (EC) surgery. Robot-assisted minimally invasive esophagectomy (RAMIE) offers numerous advantages, including reduced morbidity and mortality. However, no evidence exists to date comparing the development of sarcopenia after RAMIE and open esophagectomy (OE). The objective was to evaluate whether the development of sarcopenia within the first postoperative year after esophagectomy is associated with the surgical approach: RAMIE versus OE.

METHODS

A total of 168 patients with EC were analyzed who either underwent total robotic or fully open Ivor Lewis esophagectomy in a propensity score-matched analysis. Sarcopenia was assessed using the skeletal muscle index (cm²/m²) and psoas muscle thickness per height (mm/m) on axial computed tomography scans during the first postoperative year; in total 540 computed tomography scans were evaluated.

RESULTS

After 1-to-1 propensity score matching for confounders, 67 patients were allocated to RAMIE and OE groups, respectively. Skeletal muscle index in the OE group was significantly lower compared with the RAMIE group at the third (43.2 ± 7.6 cm²/m² versus 49.1 ± 6.9 cm²/m², p = 0.001), sixth (42.7 ± 7.8 cm²/m² versus 51.5 ± 8.2 cm²/m², p < 0.001) and ninth (43.0 ± 7.0 cm²/m² versus 49.9 ± 6.6 cm²/m², p = 0.015) postoperative month. Similar results were recorded for psoas muscle thickness per height.

CONCLUSIONS

To our knowledge, this study is the first to suggest a substantial benefit of RAMIE compared with open esophagectomy in terms of postoperative sarcopenia. These results add further evidence to support the implementation of the robotic approach in multimodal therapy of EC.

Effect of Postoperative Oral Intake Status on Sarcopenia Six Months After Esophageal Cancer Surgery

PURPOSE

In patients with esophageal cancer, skeletal muscle mass has been reported to decrease progressively after surgery and be independently associated with a poor prognosis. The purpose of this study was to investigate perioperative changes in dysphagia, oral intake status, and nutritional status and identify factors related to sarcopenia 6 months after esophagectomy.

METHODS

A total of 134 patients who underwent radical resection for thoracic esophageal cancer between March 2016 and July 2019 were analyzed retrospectively. The diagnosis of sarcopenia was made by CT taken 6 months postoperatively using the cut-off criteria of skeletal muscle index (SMI) < 52.4 cm²/m² for male and SMI < 38.5 cm²/m² for female patients. As factors related to postoperative sarcopenia, dysphagia, oral intake status, nutritional status, and physical function were extracted from the medical records. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed to identify perioperative risk factors related to sarcopenia 6 months after surgery.

RESULTS

Of the 134 patients, 34.3% were judged to be unable to start oral intake on swallowing assessment. At discharge, 30.6% received tube feeding with or without oral intake. In the non-oral intake group on swallowing assessment, a significantly higher proportion of patients received tube feeding at discharge (p = 0.014). Preoperative BMI, postoperative handgrip strength, and tube feeding at discharge were independent risk factors for sarcopenia 6 months after esophagectomy in male patients.

CONCLUSION

Tube feeding at discharge is significantly related to postoperative sarcopenia in patients with esophageal cancer. Identifying high-risk groups might allow early detection of malnutrition and provision of appropriate care.

Risk stratification of anastomotic stricture using early postoperative endoscopic and computed tomography findings in patients undergoing esophagectomy with cervical esophagogastric anastomosis for esophageal cancer

Anastomotic stricture (AS) is one of the major complications after esophagectomy for esophageal cancer. We have previously reported that severe mucosal degeneration (MD) of the anastomotic site was associated with the incidence of AS. Meanwhile, there are few reports to correlate anastomotic internal circumference (AIC) with computed tomography (CT) with the incidence of AS. Therefore, this study was conducted to clarify the correlation of early postoperative endoscopic and CT findings with the incidence of AS. We assessed 205 patients who underwent esophagectomy. We then divided them into the non-AS group (n = 164) and the AS group (n = 41) and compared their background data and intraoperative and postoperative outcomes. We also evaluated the risk factors for AS using logistic regression model. Multivariate analysis revealed small AIC (P = 0.003; OR = 4.400; 95% CI = 1.650-11.700) and severe MD (P < 0.001; OR = 7.200; 95% CI = 2.650-19.600) as the independent risk factors for AS development. We also stratified the patients into the following four groups according to the incidence of AS: low-risk (normal AIC and intact or mild MD, 6.2%), intermediate-risk (small AIC and intact or mild MD, 29.4%), high-risk (normal AIC and severe MD, 42.9%), and very high-risk (small AIC and severe MD, 61.1%). Early postoperative endoscopic and CT findings were useful in predicting the development of AS after esophagectomy.

Impact of preoperative sarcopenia on postoperative complications and survival outcomes of patients with esophageal cancer: a meta-analysis of cohort studies

The effects of preoperative sarcopenia on postoperative complications and survival outcomes of patients undergoing esophageal cancer resection are controversial. From database establishment to 16 May 2021, we systematically searched PubMed, Embase, the Cochrane Library, Web of Science, and Chinese Biomedical Literature Database to collect relevant studies investigating the effects of preoperative sarcopenia on postoperative complications, survival outcomes, and the risk of a poor prognosis of patients undergoing esophagectomy. The Newcastle-Ottawa scale was used to evaluate the quality of the included literature, and RevMan 5.3 software was used for the meta-analysis. A total of 26 studies (3 prospective cohort studies and 23 retrospective cohort studies), involving 4,515 patients, were included. The meta-analysis showed that preoperative sarcopenia significantly increased the risk of overall complications (risk ratio [RR]: 1.15; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.08-1.22), pulmonary complications (RR: 1.78; 95% CI: 1.48-2.14), and anastomotic leakage (RR: 1.29; 95% CI: 1.04-1.59) and reduced the overall survival rate (hazard ratio: 1.12; 95% CI: 1.04-1.20) following esophageal cancer resection. Preoperative sarcopenia increased the risks of overall postoperative and pulmonary complications in patients undergoing esophageal cancer resection. For patients with esophageal cancer, assessing the preoperative risk of preoperative sarcopenia is necessary.

Prognostic Value of Pretreatment Skeletal Muscle Mass Index in Esophageal Cancer Patients: A Meta-Analysis

The prognostic role of pretreatment skeletal muscle mass index (SMI) has been verified in several types of cancers. However, it remains unclear whether pretreatment SMI is a valuable prognostic indicator in esophageal cancer. The aim of the present study was to identify the prognostic value of pretreatment SMI in esophageal cancer. PubMed, EMBASE and Web of Science databases were searched for relevant studies up to November 10, 2021. The hazard ratios (HRs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were combined to assess the association of pretreatment SMI with the overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS) of esophageal cancer patients. In total, 17 studies involving 2441 patients were included in this meta-analysis. The pooled results demonstrated that a lower SMI was significantly associated with poorer OS (HR = 1.18, 95% CI: 1.09-1.27, P < 0.001) and DFS (HR = 1.78, 95% CI: 1.10-2.88, P = 0.019). In addition, subgroup analysis based on treatment (surgery vs. nonsurgery), tumor type (squamous cell carcinoma vs. adenocarcinoma) and cutoff value of SMI showed similar results. The present findings demonstrated that pretreatment SMI is an independent prognostic indicator for esophageal cancer patients, and patients with a lower pretreatment SMI are more likely to have a worse prognosis. However, additional prospective high-quality studies are needed to verify the above findings.

Prognostic Impact of Postoperative Loss of Skeletal Muscle Mass in Patients Aged 70 Years or Older with Esophageal Cancer

BACKGROUND

The number of patients with esophageal cancer aged ≥ 70 years with a poor prognosis is increasing. In general patients with esophageal cancer, postoperative loss of skeletal muscle mass (SMM) is a prognostic factor. This study was designed to investigate the prognostic impact of postoperative loss of SMM in patients aged ≥ 70 years with esophageal cancer.

METHODS

This study was a single-center, retrospective cohort study. Patients with esophageal cancer who underwent R0 esophagectomy between 2016 and 2020 were included. The percentage postoperative loss of skeletal muscle mass index (SMI%) was calculated using computed tomography images before and at 4 ± 2 months after surgery.

RESULTS

The number of subjects in the ≥ 70-year and < 70-year age groups was 166 and 218, respectively. The median SMI% was 5% in all patients; thus, 5% was defined as the cutoff point to define major loss of SMI. Major loss of SMI impacted 3-year overall survival (OS) in the ≥ 70-year age group, independent of age, sex, clinical stage, pathological T and N factors, Charlson comorbidity index, and length of hospital stay (adjusted hazard ratio [HR]: 4.400; 95% confidence interval: 1.202-16.105; P = 0.025). The adjusted HR of major loss of SMI in the ≥ 70-year age group was higher than in the < 70-year age group (adjusted HR: 4.400 vs. 2.388, respectively).

CONCLUSIONS

Postoperative loss of SMI in patients with esophageal cancer aged ≥ 70 years more strongly impacted 3-year OS than in patients aged < 70 years.

Exploratory prospective study of the influence of radical esophagectomy on perioperative physical activity in patients with thoracic esophageal cancer

Sarcopenia, which involves two important aspects, namely skeletal muscle loss and decreased physical function, was suggested as a poor prognostic factor in esophageal cancer surgery. The purpose of this study was to clarify the perioperative change in daily physical activity and propose effective preventive strategies. We prospectively enrolled patients with esophageal cancer who were scheduled to undergo radical esophagectomy. Their daily physical activities were recorded using an accelerometer before surgery, immediately after discharge, and 6 months after surgery. The relationships of physical activity level and the perioperative factors, especially skeletal muscle change, with the risk factors of low daily activity level were investigated. The data of 20/28 enrolled patients were analyzed. The mean activity level of the 20 patients decreased after discharge and subsequently recovered on postoperative month 6. The percentage of activity levels >1.5 metabolic equivalents/day after discharge significantly correlated to the change rate in total muscle cross-sectional area from baseline to POM 6 (r = 0.452, P = 0.045). In a stepwise multiple regression analysis, age, neoadjuvant chemotherapy, and anastomotic leakage were identified as negative associated factors of activity time at >1.5 metabolic equivalents at postoperative month 6. Activity level immediately after discharge was significantly associated with skeletal muscle loss at postoperative month 6 in patients with esophageal cancer who underwent esophagectomy. Elderly patients and patients who received neoadjuvant chemotherapy and had an anastomotic leakage might require intensive prevention. Prospective interventions aimed at increasing daily activity can prevent sarcopenia.

Postoperative Loss of Skeletal Muscle Mass Predicts Poor Survival After Gastric Cancer Surgery

Background

Skeletal muscle mass deterioration is common in gastric cancer (GC) patients and is linked to poor prognosis. However, information regarding the effect of skeletal muscle mass changes in the postoperative period is scarce. This study was to investigate the link between postoperative loss of skeletal muscle mass and survival following GC surgery.

Methods

Patients who underwent GC surgery between January 2015 and December 2016 were recruited into the study. Computed tomography at L3 vertebral level was used to examine skeletal muscle index prior to surgery and about 6 months after surgery. Skeletal muscle index changes were categorized as presence or absence of ≥5% loss. Overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS) were analyzed, and Cox proportional hazard models used to identify their predictors.

Results

The study comprised of 318 gastric cancer patients of which 63.5% were male. The group's mean age was 58.14 ± 10.77 years. Sixty-five patients experienced postoperative skeletal muscle index loss ≥5% and had poorer OS (P = 0.004) and DFS (P = 0.020). We find that postoperative skeletal muscle index loss ≥ 5% predicts OS [hazard ratio (HR): 2.769, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.865–4.111; P < 0.001] and DFS (HR: 2.533, 95% CI: 1.753–3.659; P < 0.001).

Conclusions

Loss of skeletal muscle mass postoperatively is linked to poor survival following GC surgery. Further studies are needed to determine whether stabilizing or enhancing skeletal muscle mass after surgery improves survival.

Degradation of skeletal mass in locally advanced oesophageal cancer between initial diagnosis and recurrence

BACKGROUND

The prognostic value of a low skeletal mass index (SMI) has been investigated in locally advanced oesophageal (LAE) cancer at diagnosis. However, nothing is known about its evolution and clinical impact between initial diagnosis and recurrence.

METHODS

A total of 89 patients treated for LAE cancer between January 2009 and December 2019 were included in this study. Computed tomography (CT) scans before treatment and at recurrence were evaluated. SMI and other body composition parameters were analysed by the L3 scan method.

RESULTS

Participants were aged 66.0 (36.0-86) years. The incidence of low SMI increased by 12.3% between diagnosis and recurrence (70.7% vs. 83.0%, respectively) over a median follow-up of 16.9 (1.7-101.6) months. Patients with high SMI at diagnosis showed loss of muscle mass (58.0 vs. 55.2 cm²/m², respectively; P < 0.001) and decreased body mass index (BMI) (27.9 vs. 26.3 kg/m², respectively; P = 0.05), but fat mass was increased (68.9 vs. 72.0 cm²/m², respectively; P = 0.01). Patients with low SMI at diagnosis showed no significant changes in body composition parameters and no improvement of SMI, even with nutritional support. Low SMI (hazard ratio [HR]: 1.8; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.02-3.16) was an independent predictor (P = 0.041) of high nutritional risk index (HR: 1.79; 95% CI: 1.03-3.11; P = 0.039) at diagnosis.

CONCLUSIONS

The percentage of patients with a low SMI increased during follow-up. Our data suggest that an assessment of skeletal muscle parameters and nutrition support may be more useful in patients with a high SMI.

Protein-enhanced feeds after esophagectomy for esophageal cancer attenuate postoperative catabolism: a prospective observational study

PURPOSE

To evaluate if nutritional supplements can attenuate postoperative catabolism in esophageal cancer patients after radical esophagectomy.

METHODS

We analyzed data prospectively from 30 patients who underwent curative esophagectomy for esophageal cancer between August and December, 2019. We compared postoperative nitrogen balance and changes in body composition between patients who received protein-enhanced enteral feeds (PEF) or other enteral feeds (OF).

RESULTS

Postoperative enteral feeding was administered safely to all patients. The average nitrogen balance was significantly higher in the PEF group than in the OF group on postoperative days (PODs) 3 (2.41 vs. - 1.50 g, P = 0.002), 4 (3.74 vs. - 0.08 g, P = 0.006), and 5 (3.27 vs. 0.11 g, P = 0.031). The cumulative nitrogen balance in the 7 days after surgery was significantly higher in the PEF group than in the OF group (6.12 vs. - 8.40 g, P = 0.025). The bodyweight loss and lean body mass loss on POD 14 were equivalent in the two groups (bodyweight loss 3.70 vs. 2.87%, P = 0.25; lean body mass loss, 4.34 vs. 1.91%, P = 0.33).

CONCLUSIONS

PEF improved the postoperative nitrogen balance significantly in patients who underwent esophagectomy.

Prognostic Significance of Preoperative Osteopenia in Patients Undergoing Esophagectomy for Esophageal Cancer

BACKGROUND

Osteopenia, which exhibits low bone mineral density (BMD), has been linked to sarcopenia and recently reported as a prognostic factor in various cancers. However, the prognostic significance of osteopenia in esophageal cancer remains unclear. Hence, this study aimed to clarify the impact of osteopenia on the prognosis of patients undergoing esophagectomy for esophageal cancer.

METHODS

We included 229 patients who underwent esophagectomy. BMD was calculated as the average pixel density (Hounsfield unit) within a circle in midvertebral core at the 11th thoracic vertebra on preoperative computed tomography. We then divided the patients into the Osteopenia group (n = 159) and the Non-Osteopenia group (n = 70) according to the optimal cutoff value obtained from the receiver operating characteristic curve. Their clinicopathological data, prognosis, and recurrence were analyzed.

RESULTS

The mean age was significantly older in the Osteopenia group (p = 0.047). The Osteopenia group had significantly worse overall survival (OS) and relapse-free survival (RFS) than the Non-Osteopenia group (p = 0.001 and p = 0.012, respectively). Multivariate analysis revealed osteopenia was an independent prognostic factor for OS (p < 0.001; hazard ratio [HR], 2.243; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.422-3.538) and RFS (p = 0.008; HR, 1.739; 95% CI, 1.154-2.620). In logistic regression model, advanced age and cStage III-IV were independent risk factors for preoperative osteopenia.

CONCLUSIONS

Preoperative osteopenia is associated with poor survival and recurrence in patients undergoing esophagectomy for esophageal cancer.

Relationship Between Early Postoperative Change in Total Psoas Muscle Area and Long-term Prognosis in Esophagectomy for Patients with Esophageal Cancer

PURPOSE

Postoperative sarcopenia following esophagectomy for esophageal cancer has become a severe problem due to the increasing number of elderly patients undergoing surgery. This study aimed to clarify the relationship between early postoperative skeletal muscle change and cancer prognosis, and propose effective interventions to prevent sarcopenia.

METHODS

This study retrospectively analyzed 152 patients who underwent esophagectomy for esophageal cancer. Total psoas muscle area (TPA) was measured before surgery as baseline and on postoperative day 7 (± 2). The effect of early postoperative skeletal muscle loss on 5-year survival was investigated. Moreover, 5-year survival in patients with postoperative complications and a high inflammatory status, which were previously reported as poor prognostic factors of esophageal cancer, was also investigated.

RESULTS

Among the 152 patients, 52 (34.2%) showed a decrease in TPA, while 100 (65.8%) maintained their TPA. The TPA decreasing group exhibited poor 5-year overall survival (OS) (p = 0.003) and 5-year recurrence-free survival (RFS) (p < 0.001). The TPA decreasing group also showed a poor 5-year OS in patients who developed severe postoperative complications (p = 0.015). Multivariate analyses showed that decreased TPA was found to be independently associated with OS (p = 0.017) as well as RFS (p = 0.002).

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings suggested a relationship between decreased TPA within 1 week after esophagectomy and long-term prognosis among patients with esophageal cancer. If TPA can be maintained, the prognosis was better even in cases with serious complications.

Low Skeletal Muscle Mass Is a Risk Factor for Aspiration Pneumonia During Chemoradiotherapy

OBJECTIVES

This study aimed to investigate whether pretreatment skeletal muscle mass index (SMI) is a predictor for the risk of aspiration pneumonia and to explore the relationship between low SMI and overall survival (OS) in patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) receiving chemoradiotherapy (CRT).

METHODS

We retrospectively reviewed the data of patients with HNSCC who received CRT during 2010-2019. Patients received a combination of radiotherapy and cisplatin-based chemotherapy (3 cycles of 80 mg/m² cisplatin on days 1, 22, and 43). Aspiration pneumonia were defined as the presence of both subjective and objective symptoms. Kaplan-Meier curves were generated to analyze survival.

RESULTS

Among the 159 patients, 36 (22.6%) developed aspiration pneumonia during treatment. Median SMI in patients with and without pneumonia was 12.4 cm² /m² (9.0-20.7) and 13.6 cm² /m² (8.1-19.7), respectively (P < .01). Multivariate logistic regression revealed that SMI was the only independent predictor of aspiration pneumonia (P = .0026). Mean OS was significantly shorter for patients with low SMI than for patients with normal SMI (66.9 months vs. 92.7 months, P = .001).

CONCLUSION

Pretreatment low SMI predicts development of aspiration pneumonia and is a strong negative prognostic predictor for OS in patients with HNSCC undergoing CRT. Supportive treatment can be provided to patients at high risk of a low SMI. This study is the first to report SMI as a prognostic predictor in HNSCC. Laryngoscope, 131:E1524-E1529, 2021.

Effects of high-intensity exercise training on physical fitness, quality of life and treatment outcomes after oesophagectomy for cancer of the gastro-oesophageal junction: PRESET pilot study

Background

Treatment for cancer of the gastro‐oesophageal junction (GOJ) can result in considerable and persistent impairment of physical fitness and health‐related quality of life (HRQoL). This controlled follow‐up study investigated the feasibility and safety of postoperative exercise training.

Methods

Patients with stage I–III GOJ cancer were allocated to 12 weeks of postoperative concurrent aerobic and resistance training (exercise group) or usual care (control group). Changes in cardiorespiratory fitness, muscle strength and HRQoL were evaluated. Adherence to adjuvant chemotherapy, hospitalizations and 1‐year overall survival were recorded to assess safety.

Results

Some 49 patients were studied. The exercise group attended a mean of 69 per cent of all prescribed sessions. After exercise, muscle strength and cardiorespiratory fitness were increased and returned to pretreatment levels. At 1‐year follow‐up, the exercise group had improved HRQoL (+13·5 points, 95 per cent c.i. 2·2 to 24·9), with no change in the control group (+3·7 points, −5·9 to 13·4), but there was no difference between the groups at this time point (+9·8 points, −5·1 to 24·8). Exercise was safe, with no differences in patients receiving adjuvant chemotherapy (14 of 16 versus 16 of 19; relative risk (RR) 1·04, 95 per cent c.i. 0·74 to 1·44), relative dose intensity of adjuvant chemotherapy (mean 57 versus 63 per cent; P = 0·479), hospitalization (7 of 19 versus 6 of 23; RR 1·41, 0·57 to 3·49) or 1‐year overall survival (80 versus 79 per cent; P = 0·839) for exercise and usual care respectively.

Conclusion

Exercise in the postoperative period is safe and may have the potential to improve physical fitness in patients with GOJ cancer. No differences in prognostic endpoints or HRQoL were observed. Registration number: NCT02722785 ( https://www.clinicaltrials.gov).

Prognostic Implication of Postoperative Weight Loss After Esophagectomy for Esophageal Squamous Cell Cancer

BACKGROUND

Preoperative weight loss in esophageal cancer is reported to be associated with a poor prognosis. However, the impact of postoperative weight loss on the prognosis of patients with esophageal cancer remains unclear.

METHODS

This study included 186 patients with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma who underwent surgery between January 2012 and January 2015. The relationship between weight loss 6 months after esophagectomy as well as the clinical factors and prognosis of patients was investigated.

RESULTS

The mean weight loss rate for all the patients was 9.3% at 3 months, 10.8% at 6 months, 11.1% at 12 months, and 11.4% at 24 months after surgery. The patients with severe weight loss 6 months after surgery (≥ 12%) exhibited lower serum albumin levels and a lower prognostic nutrition index 6 months after esophagectomy than the patients with moderate weight loss (< 12%; p = 0.011 and 0.009, respectively). Although overall survival did not differ significantly between the two groups, for all the patients, severe weight loss was significantly associated with shortened overall survival for the cStages 3 and 4 patients (3-year overall survival rate, 76.6% in the moderate group vs 54.5% in the severe group; p = 0.042). The multivariate analyses identified only severe weight loss as an independent factor associated with worse overall survival for the cStages 3 and 4 patients (p = 0.034).

CONCLUSION

This study showed that postoperative weight loss negatively affected the prognosis for patients with advanced esophageal cancer, indicating the necessity of administering nutritional interventions to these patients to prevent postoperative weight loss.