Loss of skeletal muscle during systemic chemotherapy is prognostic of poor survival in patients with foregut cancer.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Malnutrition, weight loss, and muscle wasting are common in patients with foregut cancers (oesophagus, stomach, pancreas, liver, and bile ducts) and are associated with adverse clinical outcomes. However, little is known about the changes in body composition that occur in these patients during chemotherapy and its impacts clinical outcomes.

Patients and methods

A prospective study of adult foregut cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy between 2012 and 2016 was conducted. Computed tomography images were evaluated for cross-sectional skeletal muscle area (SMA) and adipose tissue area (ATA) at two time points [interval 118 days (IQR 92-58 days)]. Longitudinal changes in SMA and ATA were examined using paired t-tests. Sarcopenia and low muscle attenuation (MA) were

SUBMITTER: Daly LE 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5879982 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature