Obesity, Sarcopenia, and Outcomes in Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Patients Treated With Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors and Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitors

Sarcopenic Obesity in Cervical Carcinoma: A Strong and Independent Prognostic Factor beyond the Conventional Predictors (ESTHER Study-AFRAID Project)

Locally advanced cervical cancer represents a significant treatment challenge. Body composition parameters such as body mass index, sarcopenia, and sarcopenic obesity, defined by sarcopenia and BMI ≥ 30 kg/m2, have been identified as potential prognostic factors, yet their overall impact remains underexplored. This study assessed the relationship between these anthropometric parameters alongside clinical prognostic factors on the prognosis of 173 cervical cancer patients. Survival outcomes in terms of local control (LC), distant metastasis-free survival (DMFS), disease-free survival (DFS), and overall survival (OS) were analyzed using Kaplan regression methods-Meier and Cox. Older age, lower hemoglobin levels, higher FIGO (International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics) stages, and lower total radiation doses were significantly associated with worse outcomes. Univariate analysis showed a significant correlation between BMI and the outcomes examined, revealing that normal-weight patients show higher survival rates, which was not confirmed by the multivariate analysis. Sarcopenia was not correlated with any of the outcomes considered, while sarcopenic obesity was identified as an independent negative predictor of DFS (HR: 5.289, 95% CI: 1.298-21.546, p = 0.020) and OS (HR: 2.645, 95% CI: 1.275-5.488, p = 0.009). This study highlights the potential of sarcopenic obesity as an independent predictor of clinical outcomes. These results support their inclusion in prognostic assessments and treatment planning for patients with advanced cervical cancer.

Effects of nutritional indices and inflammatory parameters on patients received immunotherapy for non-small cell lung cancer

OBJECTIVE

This research explored the relationship between a patient's nutritional state and inflammatory markers and the prognosis of their non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) treatment while receiving a combination of chemotherapy and immunotherapy.

METHOD

This retrospective and single-center analysis included NSCLC patients who received a combination of chemotherapy and immunotherapy at the Department of Oncology at Shanghai Lung Hospital. Patients were categorized based on malnutrition, sarcopenia, sarcopenic obesity, and advanced-lung-cancer-inflammation-index (ALI) scores after collecting nutritional and inflammatory indices. Kaplan-Meier and the Cox models were utilized to analyze survival.

RESULTS

There was a significant correlation between malnutrition, sarcopenia, sarcopenic obesity, and low ALI scores with lower overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) (p < 0.05). Low ALI score and malnutrition were independent factors influencing patient survival in terms of both OS and PFS (p < 0.01).

CONCLUSION

The nutritional and inflammatory indices of immunotherapy-treated NSCLC patients substantially affect their prognosis. Assessing these variables could aid in optimizing treatment strategies and improving patient outcomes. Additional research is required to comprehend the intricate relationship between nutrition, inflammation, and cancer progression and to develop individualized therapies.

Prognostic utility of body composition parameters based on computed tomography analysis of advanced non-small cell lung cancer treated with immune checkpoint inhibitors

OBJECTIVE

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the prognostic impact of body composition parameters based on computed tomography (CT) in patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) who received ICI treatment.

METHODS

This retrospective study analyzed the data from advanced NSCLC patients treated with ICI therapy between 2013 and 2019. We included patients with NSCLC who underwent baseline CT scans. The exclusion criteria included patients who received three or more lines of chemotherapy, those with insufficient clinical information, or those without treatment response evaluation.

RESULTS

A total of 136 patients were enrolled. Among the volumetric body composition parameters, patients in the highest quartiles (Q2-4) of the visceral fat index (VFI) exhibited a higher response rate to ICI therapy than those in the lowest quartile (Q1) of VFI (Q1 vs. Q2-4: 18.2% vs. 43.1%, p = 0.012). Patients with a VFI in Q2-4 had significantly prolonged progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) (PFS, Q1 vs. Q2-4: 3.0 months vs. 6.4 months, p = 0.043; OS, Q1 vs. Q2-4: 5.6 months vs. 16.3 months, p = 0.004). Kaplan-Meier analysis based on the VFI and visceral fat Hounsfield unit (HU) revealed that patients with VFI in Q1 and HU in Q2-4 had the worst prognosis.

CONCLUSIONS

Visceral fat volume is significantly associated with treatment outcomes in ICI-treated patients with NSCLC. Moreover, fat quality may impact the treatment outcomes. This finding underscores the potential significance of both fat compartments and fat quality as prognostic indicators.

CRITICAL RELEVANCE STATEMENT

Visceral fat volume is significantly associated with treatment outcomes in ICI-treated patients with non-small cell lung cancer. Moreover, fat quality may impact the treatment outcomes. This finding underscores the potential significance of both fat compartments and fat quality as prognostic indicators.

KEY POINTS

• We found that visceral fat volume positively correlated with treatment response and survival in patients with non-small cell lung cancer receiving immune checkpoint inhibitors. • Additionally, a trend toward a negative correlation between visceral fat attenuation and survival was observed. • The findings highlight the prognostic utility of fat compartments and fat quality.

Sarcopenic obesity by the ESPEN/EASO criteria for predicting mortality in advanced non-small cell lung cancer

BACKGROUND

The European Society for Clinical Nutrition and Metabolism (ESPEN) and the European Association for the Study of Obesity (EASO) recently released the first international consensus on the diagnostic criteria for sarcopenic obesity (SO), which recommended skeletal muscle mass adjusted for body weight (SMM/W) to determine low muscle mass. SMM adjusted for body mass index (SMM/BMI) appeared to be better associated with physical performance than SMM/W. Thus, we modified the ESPEN/EASO criteria by using SMM/BMI. We aimed (1) to evaluate the agreement of the ESPEN/EASO-defined SO (SO_ESPEN) and the modified ESPEN/EASO-defined SO (SO_ESPEN-M) with other commonly used SO definitions, and (2) to compare different SO definitions for predicting mortality in a prospective cohort with advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

METHODS

This prospective study included patients with advanced NSCLC. We defined SO according to five different diagnostic criteria: SO_ESPEN, SO_ESPEN-M, Asian Working Group for Sarcopenia (AWGS)-determined sarcopenia with BMI-determined obesity (SO_AWGS), computed tomography-derived sarcopenia with BMI-determined obesity (SO_CT), and fat mass to fat-free mass ratio >0.8 (SO_FM). The outcome was all-cause mortality.

RESULTS

Of the 639 participants (mean age 58.6 years, 229 women) we studied, 488 (76.4%) died during the median follow-up period of 25 months. SMM/BMI was significantly lower in the death group than in the survivor group (men: p = 0.001, women: p < 0.001), but SMM/W was not. Only 3 (0.47%) participants met all five SO diagnostic criteria. SO_ESPEN showed an excellent agreement with SO_ESPEN-M (Cohen's kappa = 0.896), a moderate agreement with SO_AWGS (Cohen's kappa = 0.415), but poor agreements with SO_CT and SO_FM (Cohen's kappa = 0.078 and 0.092, respectively). After full adjustment for potential confounders, SO_ESPEN (HR 1.54, 95% CI 1.26-1.89), SO_ESPEN-M (HR 1.56, 95% CI 1.26-1.92), and SO_AWGS (HR 1.43, 95% CI 1.14-1.78) were significantly associated with mortality. However, SO_CT (HR 1.17, 95% CI 0.87-1.58) and SO_FM (HR 1.15, 95% CI 0.90-1.46) showed no significant association with mortality.

CONCLUSIONS

SO_ESPEN showed an excellent agreement with SO_ESPEN-M, a moderate agreement with SO_AWGS, but poor agreements with SO_CT and SO_FM. SO_ESPEN, SO_ESPEN-M, and SO_AWGS were independent prognostic factors for mortality in our study population, but SO_CT and SO_FM were not. Although SMM/BMI was better associated with survival than SMM/W, SO_ESPEN-M did not show an advantage in predicting survival over SO_ESPEN.

Impact of low and high body mass index on predicting therapeutic efficacy and prognosis in patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma treated with first-line tyrosine kinase inhibitors

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the significance of both low and high body mass index (BMI) as a biomarker in first-line tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) for metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC).

METHODS

The oncological outcome of 235 patients with mRCC treated with TKI from 2007 to 2018 was reviewed retrospectively. All patients received first-line TKI as therapy. We analyzed the relationship between BMI (low and high) and disease control rate. The primary outcome was progression free survival and overall survival, and the association between BMI and survival prognosis was evaluated.

RESULTS

The median BMI was 22.5 kg/m² , and 25 patients (10.7%) had a low BMI (<18.5 kg/m² ), 158 patients (67.2%) had a normal BMI (18.5-25 kg/m² ), and 52 patients (22.1%) had a high BMI (≥ 25 kg/m² ). Patients in the low BMI group had a significantly lower disease control rate, whereas patients in the high BMI group had a significantly higher disease control rate (p = 0.002 and p = 0.030, respectively). A log-rank test showed prognosis to be significantly poorer in the low BMI group and to be significantly better in the high BMI group than that in the normal BMI group. Multivariable Cox regression analysis showed that low BMI was an independent indicator of poor prognosis, whereas high BMI was an independent indicator of favorable prognosis.

CONCLUSION

We showed the impact of both low and high BMI on predicting therapeutic efficacy and prognosis in mRCC patients treated with TKI.

Protective effect of obesity on survival in cancers treated with immunotherapy vanishes when controlling for type of cancer, weight loss and reduced skeletal muscle

INTRODUCTION

Association of high body mass index (BMI) with longer survival has been reported in patients on immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs), but results are inconsistent. This 'obesity paradox' is potentially confounded by the effects of BMI change over time and of skeletal muscle depletion.

METHODS

We conducted a secondary analysis of a prospective cohort, including consecutive patients receiving ICI treatment for melanoma (n = 411) and non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) (n = 389) in routine care.

RESULTS

In the univariable analysis of the entire population, overweight/obesity (BMI ≥ 25 kg/m²) was associated with longer survival (p < 0.01); however, this effect was limited to NSCLC (p < 0.01) and was absent in melanoma. Weight loss (WL) and reduced skeletal muscle mass were observed in patients within all BMI categories. WL was associated with shorter survival in multivariable analysis in both tumour sites (p < 0.01), and for NSCLC, BMI lost significance when WL was included (p = 0.13). In models further adjusted for CT-defined skeletal muscle mass, WL retained significance for both tumour types (p < 0.01), and reduced skeletal muscle only for NSCLC (p = 0.02) was associated with shorter survival. WL retained significance when biomarkers (lactate dehydrogenase enzyme, albumin and derived neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio) were added to the multivariable model.

CONCLUSIONS

The so-called 'obesity paradox', counterintuitive association between high BMI and longer survival, vanished when controlling for confounders, such as type of cancer, and manifestations of depletion (WL and reduced skeletal muscle mass).

Changes in Body Weight, Body Composition, Phase Angle, and Resting Metabolic Rate in Male Patients with Stage IV Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer Undergoing Therapy

Background and Objectives: Cancer treatments can adversely influence body weight status, body composition, phase angle (PhA), and resting metabolic rate (RMR), which could possibly affect disease course. Τhe aim was to assess differences in body composition, PhA, RMR, and related parameters in non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients after treatment. Methods: The sample consisted of 82 NSCLC (stage IV) male patients (chemotherapy (C) 15.7%; immunotherapy (I) 13.3%; C + I 25.3%; (C) + radiotherapy (R) 22.9 %; and other 15.5%). Body weight and body composition, PhA, RMR, oxygen consumption (VO2), ventilation rate, and diet were assessed at baseline and at 3 months after initiation of therapy. Results: Reductions in PhA, RMR, VO2, ventilation rate, and intracellular water were observed at follow up. Weight loss was evident for 45% of patients who also had a reduction in lean body mass. In the group under C, lean mass was reduced at follow up (55.3 ± 11.53 vs. 52.4 ± 12.6, p = 0.04) without significant weight changes. In subjects with a low adherence to the Mediterranean diet (MedDietScore < 30), RMR (1940 ± 485 vs. 1730 ± 338 Kcal, p = 0.001), VO2 (277.1 ± 70.2 vs. 247 ± 49.1 mL/min, p = 0.001), and ventilation rate (10.1 ± 2.28 vs. 9. ± 2 2.2 L/min, p = 0.03) were significantly reduced. The changes in body weight were positively related to % of change in fat mass (rho = 0.322, p = 0.003) and absolute lean mass change (rho = 0.534, p < 0.001) and negatively associated with % of change in total body water (rho = −0.314, p = 0.004) (Spearman correlation coefficients). Conclusions: In conclusion, cancer therapy related to reductions in PhA and RMR, while lean mass reduction may be related to the type of treatment. Our results emphasize the importance of a more holistic nutritional and body composition assessment beyond body weight, to better address patients’ needs in clinical practice.

Preoperative skeletal muscle fat infiltration is a strong predictor of poorer survival in gallbladder cancer underwent surgery

BACKGROUND & AIMS

Recently, a decrease in skeletal muscle, termed sarcopenia, has been reported to be associated with poorer survival of patients in several types of cancer. However, few studies have investigated the association between sarcopenia and the survival of patients with gallbladder cancer.

METHODS

A total of 88 patients undergoing curative resection for advanced gallbladder cancer were included in this study. The quality of skeletal muscle was assessed by the intramuscular adipose tissue content (IMAC), and the quantity of skeletal muscle was assessed by the psoas muscle index (PMI), measured on preoperative computed tomography. The optimum cutoff values for IMAC and PMI for predicting the overall survival in each sex were determined using a minimum p value approach. Clinicopathological factors, IMAC and PMI were retrospectively analyzed to identify the predictors of overall survival (OS).

RESULTS

The cutoff values for IMAC were -0.3 in males and 0.04 in females. The numbers of patients with low IMAC and high IMAC were 42 and 46, respectively. The cutoff values for PMI were 7.3 cm²/m² in males and 5.0 cm²/m² in females. The numbers of patients with low PMI and high PMI were 22 and 66, respectively. A multivariate analysis revealed that pT stage (pT3/4, hazard ratio [HR] = 6.72, p = 0.004), high IMAC (HR = 4.12, p < 0.001), Bile duct infiltration (present, HR = 2.82, p = 0.046), high age (≥72 years old, HR = 2.64, p = 0.010), major hepatectomy (performed, HR = 2.50, p = 0.031) and pN1/2 (HR = 2.17, p = 0.010) as independent prognostic factors.

CONCLUSION

IMAC was independent prognostic factor for resected advanced gallbladder cancer, so the quality of skeletal muscle more strongly predicted survival than the quantity of skeletal muscle.

Prognostic significance of cachexia index in patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma treated with systemic chemotherapy

Cancer cachexia affects quality of life, response to chemotherapy, and survival in many advanced cancer patients. The aim of this study was to evaluate the prognostic value of pretreatment cachexia index (CXI) in patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) treated with systematic chemotherapy. Patients with advanced HCC treated with lenvatinib therapy between October 2018 and October 2020 were retrospectively studied. The CXI was calculated as (L3 skeletal muscle index) × (serum albumin)/(neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio). The association with treatment response and early adverse events within the first two months of lenvatinib therapy was investigated. Overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) were estimated using the Kaplan–Meier method with log-rank test. Multivariable Cox regression was used to identify the predictors of survival. A total of 116 patients (median age: 60, male: 84.5% ) with calculated CXI. They divided into two groups: high CXI (≥ 53, n = 82) and low CXI (< 53, n = 34). Patients with low CXI had a significantly lower disease control rate (61.8% vs. 89.0%, p = 0.001) and a shorter median OS (8.0 [95% CI 6.2–9.8] vs. 12.3 [95% CI 10.1–14.4] months, p = 0.002) than those with high CXI. In multivariable analysis, low CXI was independently associated with shorter OS (HR: 2.07, 95% CI: 1.17–3.65, p = 0.01) and PFS (HR: 1.84, 95% CI: 1.09–3.09, p = 0.02). Of note, during the first two months of lenvatinib therapy, anorexia (41.2% vs. 22.0%, p = 0.04) developed more frequently among patients with low CXI than those with high CXI. The CXI may be a clinically useful index for predicting poor treatment response and prognosis in patients with advanced HCC undergoing lenvatinib treatment.

Efficacy of immunotherapy in obese patients with cancer

Obesity is a condition of excessive fat tissue and high body mass index (BMI ≥30), which is increasing worldwide. Excess body weight is associated with poorer results in cancer treatments; however, recent studies emphasized that elevated BMI was associated with improved outcomes in cases treated by immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) therapies, which is called the obesity paradox. In this review, we discuss the correlation between obesity and cancer immunotherapy, especially ICIs, the underlying mechanisms, and the outcomes in different types of cancers. In addition, we describe the occurrence of immune-related adverse events (irAE) and the effect of gender in obese patients during immunotherapy using all relevant studies with available full texts.

Prognostic Nutritional Index and Lung Immune Prognostic Index as Prognostic Predictors for Combination Therapies of Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors and Cytotoxic Anticancer Chemotherapy for Patients with Advanced Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer

Combination therapy with immune checkpoint inhibitors and cytotoxic chemotherapies (chemoimmunotherapy) is associated with significantly better survival outcomes than cytotoxic chemotherapies alone in patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). However, there are no prognostic markers for chemoimmunotherapy. The prognostic nutritional index (PNI) and lung immune prognostic index (LIPI) are prognostic biomarkers for immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) monotherapy or cytotoxic chemotherapies. Thus, we aimed to examine whether these factors could also be prognostic markers for chemoimmunotherapy. We retrospectively examined 237 patients with advanced NSCLC treated with chemoimmunotherapy. In the total group, the median overall survival (OS) was not reached, and the median progression-free survival (PFS) was 8.6 months. Multivariate analysis of OS and PFS revealed significant differences based on PNI and LIPI. Programmed cell death ligand 1 (PD-L1) was also significantly associated with OS and PFS. PNI and a PD-L1 tumor proportion score (TPS) of <50% and poor LIPI (regardless of PD-L1 TPS) were associated with poor prognosis. PNI and LIPI predicted survival outcomes in patients with advanced NSCLC treated with chemoimmunotherapy, especially in patients with PD-L1 TPS <50%. For patients in this poor category, chemoimmunotherapy may result in a worse prognosis than expected.

NAFLD-driven HCC: Safety and efficacy of current and emerging treatment options

In light of a global rise in obesity and type 2 diabetes, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) represent an increasingly important underlying aetiology of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). HCCs arising from lipotoxicity-mediated chronic inflammation are characterised by several unique features: in contrast to virally driven HCC, up to 50% of NAFLD-HCC occurs in patients without cirrhosis and annual HCC incidence is comparatively low, complicating current surveillance strategies. On average, patients are older and are more frequently diagnosed at an advanced stage. While locoregional treatments are probably equally effective regardless of HCC aetiology, the picture is less clear for systemic therapy. Tyrosine kinase inhibitors are probably equally effective, while there have been initial signals that immune checkpoint inhibitors may be less effective in NAFLD-HCC than in viral HCC. Current international clinical practice guidelines for HCC do not consider aetiology, as there are insufficient data to draw specific conclusions or to recommend aetiology-specific modifications to the current management of patients with HCC. However, in light of the growing relevance of NAFLD-HCC, future clinical trials should assess whether HCC aetiology - and NAFLD/NASH in particular - influence the safety and efficacy of a given treatment.

Overweight as a Favorable Clinical Biomarker for Checkpoint Inhibitor Therapy Response in Recurrent Gynecologic Cancer Patients

Despite increasing clinical interest in adapting checkpoint inhibitor (CPI) therapies for patients with gynecologic malignancies, no accurate clinical biomarkers to predict therapy response and prognosis are currently available. Therefore, we aimed to assess the predictive and prognostic value of pretherapeutic body mass index (BMI) for recurrent gynecologic cancer patients as previously validated for other solid tumors. We evaluated patients with programmed cell death ligand 1 (PD-L1) positive and, in endometrial cancer, also mismatch repair deficient (MMR) gynecologic malignancies, who received the PD-1 inhibitor pembrolizumab as monotherapy (200 mg fixed-dose q3 w) from 2017 to 2020 (n = 48). Thirty-six patients receiving at least four courses were included in the final analysis. Associations between a BMI increase per 5 kg/m² and overall response rate (ORR; complete + partial response), disease control rate (DCR; ORR + stable disease), progression-free (PFS), and overall survival (OS) were assessed. An elevated BMI was univariately associated with ORR (OR 10.93 [CI 2.39–49.82], p = 0.002), DCR (OR 2.19 [CI 0.99–4.83], p = 0.048), prolonged PFS (HR 1.54 [CI 1.03–2.34], p = 0.038), and OS (HR 1.87 [CI 1.07–3.29], p = 0.028). All results could be confirmed in the multivariate analyses. Pretherapeutic BMI therefore appears to be a promising readily available biomarker to identify patients with PD-L1-positive and/or MMR-deficient gynecologic malignancies who could particularly benefit from CPI treatment.

Prognostic Impact of Sarcopenia on Clinical Outcomes in Malignancies Treated With Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Background

The effect of sarcopenia on the clinical outcomes of patients with malignant neoplasms receiving immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) is unclear. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect and survival of patients with malignancies and sarcopenia receiving ICIs.

Methods

We systematically searched related studies in PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane Library up to March 2021 according to the inclusion and exclusion criteria. Information pertaining to the hazard ratio (HR) corresponding to 95% confidence interval (CI) of overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) as determined by univariate and multivariate analyses; the odds ratio (OR) corresponding to the 95% CI of the disease control rate (DCR) and objective response rate (ORR); and immune-related adverse events (irAEs) was collected and analyzed using the RevMan 5.4 software. Study heterogeneity and sensitivity were also assessed.

Results

A total of 19 studies were finalized that included 1763patients with lung, gastrointestinal, and head and neck cancers as well as those with melanoma, renal cell carcinoma, urothelial carcinoma, pancreatic cancer, and soft tissue sarcoma. According to univariate and multivariate analyses, patients with sarcopenia at pre-immunotherapy had poorer PFS and OS than those without. HRs and the corresponding 95% CI of PFS were 1.91(1.55–2.34, p <0.00001) and 1.46 (1.20–1.78, p =0.0001), respectively, and HRs and the corresponding 95% CI of OS were 1.78 (1.47–2.14, p <0.00001) and 1.73 (1.36–2.19, p <0.0001), respectively. Patients with sarcopenia showed poor PFS and OS during treatment. In addition, patients with sarcopenia had worse ORR (OR 0.46, 95% CI 0.28–0.74, p = 0.001) and DCR (OR 0.44, 95% CI 0.31–0.64, p<0.0001); however, the incidence of irAEs of any grade and high-grade in patients with sarcopenia did not increase, OR and the corresponding 95% CI were 0.58(0.30–1.12, p = 0.10) and 0.46(0.19–1.09, p = 0.08). Further, we performed subgroup analysis, skeletal muscle mass index (SMI) and psoas muscle mass index (PMI) stratification. In the SMI group, patients with sarcopenia had poor ORR, DCR, PFS, and OS than those without. In the PMI group, sarcopenia had poor ORR,DCR, and was a poor prognostic factor for PFS and OS according to univariate analysis but had no effect on PFS and OS according to multivariate analysis.

Conclusions

Patients with malignancies and sarcopenia at pre-immunotherapy or follow-up visits had poorer clinical outcomes than those without, and sarcopenia was a poor predictive factor of ICI immunotherapy outcomes.

Radiomics predicts risk of cachexia in advanced NSCLC patients treated with immune checkpoint inhibitors

BACKGROUND

Approximately 50% of cancer patients eventually develop a syndrome of prolonged weight loss (cachexia), which may contribute to primary resistance to immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI). This study utilised radiomics analysis of ¹⁸F-FDG-PET/CT images to predict risk of cachexia that can be subsequently associated with clinical outcomes among advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients treated with ICI.

METHODS

Baseline (pre-therapy) PET/CT images and clinical data were retrospectively curated from 210 ICI-treated NSCLC patients from two institutions. A radiomics signature was developed to predict the cachexia with PET/CT images, which was further used to predict durable clinical benefit (DCB), progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) following ICI.

RESULTS

The radiomics signature predicted risk of cachexia with areas under receiver operating characteristics curves (AUCs) ≥ 0.74 in the training, test, and external test cohorts. Further, the radiomics signature could identify patients with DCB from ICI with AUCs≥0.66 in these three cohorts. PFS and OS were significantly shorter among patients with higher radiomics-based cachexia probability in all three cohorts, especially among those potentially immunotherapy sensitive patients with PD-L1-positive status (p < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

PET/CT radiomics analysis has the potential to predict the probability of developing cachexia before the start of ICI, triggering aggressive monitoring to improve potential to achieve more clinical benefit.