Is computed-tomography-based body composition a reliable predictor of chemotherapy-related toxicity in pancreatic cancer patients?
Additional information
Authors
Cefalì M.,
Scala I.,
Pavone G.,
Helbling D.,
Hussung S.,
Fritsch R.,
Reiner C.,
Stocker S.,
Koeberle D.,
Kissling M.,
Chianca V.,
Del Grande F.,
De Dosso S.,
Rizzo S. M. R.
Type
Journal Article
Year
2023
Language
English
Abstract
Background: Malnutrition, loss of weight and of skeletal muscle mass are frequent in pancreatic cancer patients, a majority of which will undergo chemotherapy over the course of their disease. Available data suggest a negative prognostic role of these changes in body composition on disease outcomes; however, it is unclear whether tolerance to chemotherapeutic treatment is similarly and/or negatively affected. We aimed to explore this association by retrospectively assessing changes in body composition and chemotherapy-related toxicity in a cohort of advanced pancreatic cancer patients. Methods: Body composition was evaluated through clinical parameters and through radiological assessment of muscle mass, skeletal muscle area, skeletal muscle index and skeletal muscle density; and an assessment of fat distribution by subcutaneous adipose tissue and visceral adipose tissue. We performed descriptive statistics, pre/post chemotherapy comparisons and uni- and multivariate analyses to assess the relation between changes in body composition and toxicity. Results: Toxicity risk increased with an increase of skeletal muscle index (OR: 1.03) and body mass index (OR: 1.07), whereas it decreased with an increase in skeletal muscle density (OR: 0.96). Multivariate analyses confirmed a reduction in the risk of toxicity only with an increase in skeletal muscle density (OR: 0.96). Conclusions: This study suggests that the retrospective analysis of changes in body composition is unlikely to be useful to predict toxicity to gemcitabine—nab-paclitaxel.
Keywords
Body composition, Pancreatic cancer, Toxicity
Journal
Cancers
Volume
15
Number ( Month )
17
Pages (or article number)
4398
Diffusion
License
CC BY
Visibility
Public
Status open access
Gold
