Impact on postoperative complications of changes in skeletal muscle mass during neoadjuvant chemotherapy for gastro-oesophageal cancer.
den Boer RB., Jones KI., Ash S., van Boxel GI., Gillies RS., O'Donnell T., Ruurda JP., Sgromo B., Silva MA., Maynard ND.
BACKGROUND: Risk assessment is relevant to predict postoperative outcomes in patients with gastro-oesophageal cancer. This cohort study aimed to assess body composition changes during neoadjuvant chemotherapy and investigate their association with postoperative complications. METHODS: Consecutive patients with gastro-oesophageal cancer undergoing neoadjuvant chemotherapy and surgery with curative intent between 2016 and 2019 were identified from a specific database and included in the study. CT images before and after neoadjuvant chemotherapy were used to assess the skeletal muscle index, sarcopenia, and subcutaneous and visceral fat index. RESULTS: In a cohort of 199 patients, the mean skeletal muscle index decreased during neoadjuvant therapy (from 51·187 to 49·19 cm2 /m2 ; P