Sarcopenia assessed by skeletal muscle mass volume is a prognostic factor for oncological outcomes of rectal cancer patients undergoing neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy followed by surgery

Transanal total mesorectal excision for locally advanced rectal cancer following neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy

PURPOSE

To examine the clinical impact of transanal total mesorectal excision (TaTME) for locally advanced rectal cancer after neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (NACRT).

METHODS

This retrospective study included 91 patients undergoing surgery for rectal cancer after NACRT between 2011 and 2022. Among them, 24, 22, and 45 patients underwent open (Open), conventional laparoscopic (Lap), and TaTME surgeries, respectively. We compared their clinical outcomes.

RESULTS

Operative time, blood loss, transfusion, morbidity, and hospital stay were significantly lower in the TaTME group than in the Open or Lap groups. The multivariate regression analyses identified only the TaTME approach as a significant factor for reducing morbidity. Both 3 yrear relapse-free survival (RFS) and local recurrence-free survival (LRFS) were significantly better in the TaTME group than in the Open or Lap groups (3 yr RFS: 94.7%, 80.4%, and 66.7%, and 3 yr LRFS: 100%, 90.5%, and 82.2% for the TaTME, Lap, and Open groups, respectively). Multivariate analyses of potential risk factors for recurrence identified body mass index, combined resection, and pathological stage, but not the TaTME approach, as significant predictors of recurrence.

CONCLUSION

TaTME reduced morbidity significantly in patients with locally advanced rectal cancer undergoing NACRT, compared with open or laparoscopic surgery.

Psoas Muscle Volume Is a Useful Predictor of Postoperative Outcome in Elderly Patients With Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer

BACKGROUND

As the population ages, the number of elderly lung cancer patients has been increasing. While surgery is the best treatment for resectable lung cancer, elderly patients often have multiple comorbidities, making accurate preoperative risk assessment crucial when formulating an appropriate treatment plan. This study aims to explore how psoas muscle volume relates to postoperative outcomes in elderly lung cancer patients.

METHODS

This single-center, retrospective study included 344 elderly (≥ 75) patients who underwent complete surgical resection for non-small cell cancer between 2010 and 2023. The psoas muscle volume index (PVI, cm3/m3) was measured using a 3-dimensional imaging workstation based on preoperative computed tomography images and grouped based on the median value for each gender. Postoperative complications and survival rates were then compared between the groups.

RESULTS

The median PVI was 60.5 cm3/m3 for males and 47.7 cm3/m3 for females. The PVI-high group had significantly fewer complications (15.6%) than the PVI-low group (37.1%) (p < 0.001). The 5-year overall survival (OS) rate was higher in the PVI-high group (80.5%) than in the PVI-low group (66.7%) (p = 0.01). Multivariate analyses showed that PVI-high was an independent predictor of lower complication risk (odds ratio 0.28, p < 0.001) and an independent factor that improved OS (hazard ratio 0.60, p = 0.042).

CONCLUSIONS

PVI in elderly lung cancer patients is associated with postoperative complications and survival.

A Scoping Review of the Implications and Applications of Body Composition Assessment in Locally Advanced and Locally Recurrent Rectal Cancer

Background: A strong body of evidence exists demonstrating deleterious relationships between abnormal body composition (BC) and outcomes in non-complex colorectal cancer. Complex rectal cancer (RC) includes locally advanced and locally recurrent tumours. This scoping review aims to summarise the current evidence examining BC in complex RC. Methods: A literature search was performed on Ovid MEDLINE, EMBASE, and Cochrane databases. Original studies examining BC in adult patients with complex RC were included. Two authors undertook screening and full-text reviews. Results: Thirty-five studies were included. Muscle quantity was the most commonly studied BC metric, with sarcopenia appearing to predict mortality, recurrence, neoadjuvant therapy outcomes, and postoperative complications. In particular, 10 studies examined relationships between BC and neoadjuvant therapy response, with six showing a significant association with sarcopenia. Only one study examined interventions for improving BC in patients with complex RC, and only one study specifically examined patients undergoing pelvic exenteration. Marked variation was also observed in terms of how BC was quantified, both in terms of anatomical location and how cut-off values were defined. Conclusions: Sarcopenia appears to predict mortality and recurrence in complex RC. An opportunity exists for a meta-analysis examining poorer BC and neoadjuvant therapy outcomes. There is a paucity of studies examining interventions for poor BC. Further research examining BC specifically in patients undergoing pelvic exenteration surgery is also lacking. Pitfalls identified include variances in how BC is measured on computed tomography and whether external cut-off values for muscle and adipose tissue are appropriate for a particular study population.

Use of 3D-CT-derived psoas major muscle volume in defining sarcopenia in colorectal cancer

BACKGROUND

Sarcopenia is characterized by reduced skeletal muscle volume and is a condition that is prevalent among elderly patients and associated with poor prognosis as a comorbidity in malignancies. Given the aging population over 80 years old in Japan, an understanding of malignancies, including colorectal cancer (CRC), complicated by sarcopenia is increasingly important. Therefore, the focus of this study is on a novel and practical diagnostic approach of assessment of psoas major muscle volume (PV) using 3-dimensional computed tomography (3D-CT) in diagnosis of sarcopenia in patients with CRC.

METHODS

The subjects were 150 patients aged ≥ 80 years with CRC who underwent primary tumor resection at Juntendo University Hospital between 2004 and 2017. 3D-CT measurement of PV and conventional CT measurement of the psoas major muscle cross-sectional area (PA) were used to identify sarcopenia (group S) and non-sarcopenia (group nS) cases. Clinicopathological characteristics, operative results, postoperative complications, and prognosis were compared between these groups.

RESULTS

The S:nS ratios were 15:135 for the PV method and 52:98 for the PA method. There was a strong positive correlation (r = 0.66, p < 0.01) between PVI (psoas major muscle volume index) and PAI (psoas major muscle cross-sectional area index), which were calculated by dividing PV or PA by the square of height. Surgical results and postoperative complications did not differ significantly in the S and nS groups defined using each method. Overall survival was worse in group S compared to group nS identified by PV (p < 0.01), but not significantly different in groups S and nS identified by PA (p = 0.77). A Cox proportional hazards model for OS identified group S by PV as an independent predictor of a poor prognosis (p < 0.05), whereas group S by PA was not a predictor of prognosis (p = 0.60).

CONCLUSIONS

The PV method for identifying sarcopenia in elderly patients with CRC is more practical and sensitive for prediction of a poor prognosis compared to the conventional method.

Effectiveness of long-term tube feeding intervention in preventing skeletal muscle loss after minimally invasive esophagectomy

PURPOSE

Esophageal cancer is a lethal tumor typically treated by neoadjuvant chemotherapy and surgery. For patients undergoing esophagectomy, postoperative enteral nutrition is important in preventing complications. Sarcopenia is associated with poor postoperative outcomes in esophageal cancer. In this study, we evaluated the benefits of tube feeding intervention and compared its short- and long-term outcomes in patients who underwent esophagectomy.

METHODS

Propensity score matching was performed in 303 patients who underwent esophagectomy at Kobe University Hospital between 2010 and 2020. Patients were divided into feeding and nonfeeding jejunostomy tube groups (n = 70 each). The feeding jejunostomy tube group was further divided into long-term (≥ 60 days) and short-term (< 60 days) subgroups. The groups were then retrospectively compared regarding postoperative albumin levels, body weight, and psoas muscle area and volume.

RESULTS

In the long-term feeding jejunostomy tube group, anastomotic leakage (p = 0.013) and left laryngeal nerve palsy (p = 0.004) occurred frequently. There were no significant between-group differences in postoperative albumin levels, body weight, or psoas muscle area. However, significant psoas muscle volume recovery was confirmed in the long-term jejunostomy tube group at 6 months postoperatively (p = 0.041).

CONCLUSIONS

Tube feeding intervention after minimally invasive esophagectomy may attenuate skeletal muscle mass loss and help prevent sarcopenia.

Predictive role of preoperative sarcopenia for long-term survival in rectal cancer patients: A meta-analysis

PURPOSE

To identify the predictive role of sarcopenia in long-term survival among rectal cancer patients who underwent surgery based on available evidence.

METHODS

The Medline, EMBASE and Web of Science databases were searched up to October 20, 2023, for relevant studies. Overall survival (OS), disease-free survival (DFS) and cancer-specific survival (CSS) were the endpoints. Hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were combined to evaluate the association between sarcopenia and survival.

RESULTS

Fifteen studies with 4283 patients were included. The pooled results demonstrated that preoperative sarcopenia significantly predicted poorer OS (HR = 2.07, 95% CI = 1.67-2.57, P<0.001), DFS (HR = 1.85, 95% CI = 1.39-2.48, P<0.001) and CSS (HR = 1.83, 95% CI = 1.31-2.56, P<0.001). Furthermore, subgroup analysis based on neoadjuvant therapy indicated that sarcopenia was a risk factor for worse OS and DFS in patients who received (OS: HR = 2.44, P<0.001; DFS: HR = 2.16, P<0.001) but not in those who did not receive (OS: HR = 2.44, P<0.001; DDFS: HR = 1.86, P = 0.002) neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy. In addition, subgroup analysis based on sample size and ethnicity showed similar results.

CONCLUSION

Preoperative sarcopenia is significantly related to poor survival in surgical rectal cancer patients and could serve as a novel and valuable predictor of long-term prognosis in these patients.

Impact of sarcopenia on outcomes in surgical patients: a systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Surgeons have historically used age as a preoperative predictor of postoperative outcomes. Sarcopenia, the loss of skeletal muscle mass due to disease or biological age, has been proposed as a more accurate risk predictor. The prognostic value of sarcopenia assessment in surgical patients remains poorly understood. Therefore, the authors aimed to synthesize the available literature and investigate the impact of sarcopenia on perioperative and postoperative outcomes across all surgical specialties.

METHODS

The authors systematically assessed the prognostic value of sarcopenia on postoperative outcomes by conducting a systematic review and meta-analysis according to Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines, searching the PubMed/MEDLINE and EMBASE databases from inception to 1st October 2022. Their primary outcomes were complication occurrence, mortality, length of operation and hospital stay, discharge to home, and postdischarge survival rate at 1, 3, and 5 years. Subgroup analysis was performed by stratifying complications according to the Clavien-Dindo classification system. Sensitivity analysis was performed by focusing on studies with an oncological, cardiovascular, emergency, or transplant surgery population and on those of higher quality or prospective study design.

RESULTS

A total of 294 studies comprising 97 643 patients, of which 33 070 had sarcopenia, were included in our analysis. Sarcopenia was associated with significantly poorer postoperative outcomes, including greater mortality, complication occurrence, length of hospital stay, and lower rates of discharge to home (all P <0.00001). A significantly lower survival rate in patients with sarcopenia was noted at 1, 3, and 5 years (all P <0.00001) after surgery. Subgroup analysis confirmed higher rates of complications and mortality in oncological (both P <0.00001), cardiovascular (both P <0.00001), and emergency ( P =0.03 and P =0.04, respectively) patients with sarcopenia. In the transplant surgery cohort, mortality was significantly higher in patients with sarcopenia ( P <0.00001). Among all patients undergoing surgery for inflammatory bowel disease, the frequency of complications was significantly increased among sarcopenic patients ( P =0.007). Sensitivity analysis based on higher quality studies and prospective studies showed that sarcopenia remained a significant predictor of mortality and complication occurrence (all P <0.00001).

CONCLUSION

Sarcopenia is a significant predictor of poorer outcomes in surgical patients. Preoperative assessment of sarcopenia can help surgeons identify patients at risk, critically balance eligibility, and refine perioperative management. Large-scale studies are required to further validate the importance of sarcopenia as a prognostic indicator of perioperative risk, especially in surgical subspecialties.

Long-term changes in psoas muscle mass after lobectomy and segmentectomy for early-stage lung cancer

BACKGROUND

Segmentectomy is considered a less invasive procedure than lobectomy for patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC); however, little is known about the physiological mechanism underlying the lower invasiveness of segmentectomy. This study is aimed to compare the differences in the long-term changes in the psoas muscle mass after segmentectomy and lobectomy in patients with NSCLC.

METHODS

Overall 315 recurrence-free patients who underwent segmentectomy (n = 93) or lobectomy (n = 222) for clinical stage 0-I NSCLC between January 2016 and December 2018 and underwent computed tomography during the entire period of 6 months ≤ postoperative year (POY) 0.5 < 12 months, 12 months ≤ POY 1 < 24 months, 24 months ≤ POY 2 < 36 months, and 36 months ≤ POY 3 < 48 months were included. Bilateral psoas muscle area (PMA) at the L3 level was measured using each cross-sectional computed tomography scan. Differences between the segmentectomy and lobectomy groups in the mean change of postoperative PMA from the preoperative period were analysed using Student's t-test and mixed analysis of variance. Multivariable analysis was performed to identify the risk factors for PMA loss on POY 3 using logistic regression analysis.

RESULTS

The lobectomy group had a significantly larger PMA change than the segmentectomy group during each postoperative period (P < 0.001). Mixed analysis of variance revealed that the mean PMA change was significantly smaller in the segmentectomy group than in the lobectomy group during the observation period (P < 0.001). The mean change in the PMA was significantly larger from POY1 (-2.5%) to POY2 (-3.9%) and POY3 (-4.7%) in the lobectomy group (P = 0.003 and P < 0.001). However, PMA remained unchanged during the postoperative observation period in the segmentectomy group. In the multivariable analysis, the risk factors for PMA change ≤-3.3% (cut-off: mean change of PMA) at POY3 included lobectomy [odds ratio (OR), 3.32; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.90-5.82; P < 0.001], male sex (OR, 1.92; 95% CI, 1.02-3.62; P = 0.044) and open thoracotomy (OR, 1.84; 95% CI, 1.11-3.05; P = 0.017). After propensity score matching, the mean change in PMA was smaller in the segmentectomy group (n = 75) than in the lobectomy group (n = 75) during the postoperative observation period (P < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

Psoas muscle mass was better maintained during the postoperative period by segmentectomy than by lobectomy. Psoas muscle mass reduction progressed over a long postoperative period after lobectomy. Segmentectomy via complete video-assisted thoracic surgery is associated with a lower likelihood of sarcopenia progression.

Computed tomography-assessed presarcopenia and clinical outcomes after laparoscopic surgery for rectal cancer

PURPOSE

Previous studies have reported that presarcopenia negatively affects rectal cancer treatment. However, most studies have analyzed patients including majority of open surgery, and the association between presarcopenia and clinical outcomes after laparoscopic rectal cancer surgery remains unclear. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of presarcopenia on the clinical and oncological outcomes after laparoscopic rectal cancer surgery.

METHODS

Three hundred and one patients undergoing laparoscopic rectal cancer surgery between December 2009 and May 2016 were enrolled. Body composition was assessed using computed tomography by measuring the muscle and fat areas at the third lumbar (L3) vertebra. The L3 skeletal muscle area was used to calculate the skeletal muscle index and evaluate presarcopenia.

RESULTS

Presarcopenia was more common in older ( ≥ 70 years, P = 0.008) or female patients (P = 0.045). Patients with presarcopenia had decreased skeletal muscle area (P < 0.001), lower hemoglobin level (P = 0.034), longer time to first flatus (P < 0.001), and more frequent surgical site infection (P = 0.001). However, survival rates were not significantly different between those with and without presarcopenia.

CONCLUSION

Computed tomography-assessed presarcopenia was associated with delayed functional recovery and increased surgical site infection, although it was not revealed as a prognostic factor for oncological outcomes.

Sarcopenia as a prognostic indicator in colorectal cancer: an updated meta-analysis

Background

Sarcopenia, often observed in the elderly, is associated with declining skeletal muscle mass and impaired muscle function. This condition has been consistently linked to a less favorable prognosis in various malignancies. Computed tomography (CT) is a frequently employed modality for evaluating skeletal muscle mass, enabling the measurement of the skeletal muscle index (SMI) at the third lumbar vertebra (L3) level. This measurement serves as a defining criterion for sarcopenia. The meta-analysis dealt with evaluating the promise sarcopenia held as a prognostic indicator in individuals with colorectal cancer.

Methods

Research relevant to the subject was determined by systematically searching PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, WANFANG, and CNKI (up to June 11, 2023, published studies). In this meta-analysis, the incidence of sarcopenia in individuals with colorectal cancer was combined to analyze the disease-free survival (DFS), overall survival (OS), and cancer-specific survival (CSS) of these individuals with and without sarcopenia. The included research was evaluated for quality per the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale (NOS) score. In the multivariate analysis of each study, the direct extraction of hazard ratio (HR) with a 95% confidence interval (CI) was executed. STATA 11.0 was applied to integrate and statistically analyze the data.

Results

Overall 20 articles participated in this meta-analysis. A 34% incidence of sarcopenia was noted in colorectal cancer. The presence of sarcopenia denoted a decrease in OS (HR=1.72,95% CI=1.45-2.03), DFS (HR=1.42,95% CI=1.26-1.60) and CSS (HR=1.48,95% CI=1.26-1.75) in individuals with colorectal cancer. In addition, the subgroup analysis depicted a pattern consistent with the overall analysis results.

Conclusion

CT-defined sarcopenia exhibits promise as an indicator of survival prognosis in individuals with colorectal cancer. Future studies need a more rigorous definition of sarcopenia to further verify these findings.

Systematic review registration

https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO/, identifier CRD42023431435.

Multifactorial Distress, the Warburg Effect, and Respiratory and pH Imbalance in Cancer Development

Oncogenes are thought to play an important role in aberrant regulation of growth factors, which is believed to be an initiation event of carcinogenesis. However, recent genetic and pharmacological studies have shown that the Warburg effect (WE) is needed for tumour growth. It refers to extensively studied aerobic glycolysis over the past decade, although its impact on cancer remains unclear. Meanwhile, a large body of evidence has indicated that oxidative stress (OS) is connected with the occurrence and progression of various forms of cancer. Psychosocial factors (PSF), such as chronic depression, sadness, stressful life experiences, stress-prone personality, and emotional distress or poor quality of life affect the immune system and contribute to cancer outcomes. Here, we examine the relationship between WE, OS, PSF, metal ions, other carcinogens, and the development of different cancers from the viewpoint of physiological and biochemical mechanisms.

Performance assessment and external validation of specific thresholds of total psoas muscle cross-sectional area as predictors of mortality in oncologic spine surgery for spinal metastases

PURPOSE

The purpose of this study was to assess the utility of low muscle mass (LMM) in predicting 90-day and 12-month mortality after spinal tumor surgery.

METHODS

We identified 115 patients operated on for spinal metastases between April 2012 and August 2022 who had available perioperative abdominal or lumbar spine CT scans and minimum 90-day follow-up. LMM was defined as a total psoas muscle cross-sectional area (TPA) at the L4 pedicle level less than 10.5 cm² for men and less than 7.2 cm² for women based on previously reported thresholds. A secondary analysis was performed by analyzing TPA as a continuous variable. The primary endpoint was 90-day mortality, and the secondary endpoint was 12-month mortality. Multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed.

RESULTS

The 90-day mortality was 19% for patients without and 42% for patients with LMM (p = 0.010). After multivariate analysis, LMM was not independently associated with increased odds of 90-day mortality (odds ratio 2.16 [95% confidence interval 0.62 to 7.50]; p = 0.223). The 12-month mortality was 45% for patients without and 71% for patients with LMM (p = 0.024). After multivariate analysis, LMM was not independently associated with increased odds of 12-month mortality (OR 1.64 [95% CI 0.46 to 5.86]; p = 0.442). The secondary analysis showed no independent association between TPA and 90-day or 12-month mortality.

CONCLUSION

Patients with LMM had higher rates of 90-day and 12-month mortality in our study, but this was not independent of other parameters such as performance status, hypoalbuminemia, or primary cancer type.