Adipose tissue loss during neoadjuvant chemotherapy: a key prognostic factor in advanced epithelial ovarian cancer
Early understanding of probable poor survival may be useful in planning the management of ovarian cancer. This study looks at changes in body composition that occur after chemo prior to surgery (neoadjuvant chemo).
This prospective study looked at 53 patients with advanced ovarian cancer who received three cycles of chemo before surgery. Using CT scans before and after chemo the muscle and fat volumes were measured. All patients showed loss of muscle and fat. This was greater for those women who were obese before treatment.
Loss of muscle volume did not alter survival. Loss of fat however was a marker of poor survival especially when the fat loss was visceral within the abdomen rather than subcutaneous. This was even more marked when the weight loss was rapid. The authors suggest that nutritional support to avoid weight loss may be beneficial for ovarian cancer patients undergoing neoadjuvant chemo.
No comments:
Post a Comment